How to defend workers’ rights in the world in the face of new challenges posed by digital technology or artificial intelligence? This is the subject of the report just published by the International Labor Organization on the occasion of its centenary celebrated throughout 2019. Developed by representatives of workers and employers from all over the world, but also by researchers and politicians, under the auspices of the Swedish Prime Minister and the South African President, he makes recommendations to guarantee the essential rights of workers.
Technological innovations, climate challenges, demographic changes with a workforce that is rejuvenating in Africa, and aging everywhere else: the world of work is changing faster than ever.
To reinforce workers’ rights in the light of these developments, the International Labor Organization , for example, recommends guaranteeing a right to learning throughout one’s career, or support schemes for people facing professional transition situations.
Universal warranty
More generally, the ILO calls for a universal guarantee to ensure decent living conditions for all workers, or the use of technological progress with a view to reducing working time.
Faced with the digitization of the economy and the leaps of artificial intelligence, the ILO recommends the creation of a specific body of international governance, says Cyril Cosme, the director in France of the International Labor Organization. ” The goal is to better organize worker protection as part of this digital platform, such as Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, which organizes a division of labor, micro-tasks, to people who can be located on the five continents. So this involves mobilizing all the states .
Investments for the future
The ILO also refers to investments for the future: the care economy, the green economy (for buildings, transport or energy in particular) and especially the rural economy. For even at the time of artificial intelligence, this is where 40% of the world’s workers are.
” It is not incompatible, on the contrary , explains Cyril Cosme . Disseminating services over the Internet, such as bank credit, can greatly improve the working conditions of smallholder farmers in developing countries . “
The ILO is finally calling for more transparent accounting practices, and governments for more equitable tax policies.