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The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called for this approach alongside strengthening social justice efforts in the face of AI and the green transition.
Building a fairer economy by linking jobs, rights, and growth
Speaking at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C. in late April, Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director-General of ILO urged policymakers to rethink economic priorities and treat decent work as a core objective of economic policy.
"The global economy stands at a critical juncture, and the moment for decisive action is now," he said, highlighting persistent decent work deficits such as informality, youth unemployment, and widening gender gaps. He pointed out that 1.2bn young people are expected to enter the workforce in the coming decades, making quality employment more urgent than ever.
Houngbo warned against viewing employment generation, rights protection, and economic growth as competing goals, noting that fragmented policies have undermined progress across all fronts. Instead, he called for macroeconomic strategies where employment outcomes stand alongside stability as central objectives.
"Monetary and fiscal policies must evolve to recognise employment outcomes as key objectives alongside macroeconomic stability," he stated.
Investments in sectors such as the green economy, care services, education, and digital infrastructure were mentioned as essential to both societal needs and economic resilience. Additionally, Houngbo stressed the critical role of social protection systems, describing them as stabilisers that prevent poverty, maintain consumption during downturns, and provide security amid volatile labour markets.
Highlighting the ILO’s Global Coalition for Social Justice, launched in 2023, Houngbo shared that more than 300 partners have come together under the coalition to advance social and economic inclusion. He highlighted the importance of continued collaboration with financial institutions such as the IMF and World Bank, aiming to reinforce social protection systems while enhancing employment policies globally.
Houngbo concluded: "The ILO's integrated approach — linking jobs, rights, and growth — provides a framework for addressing these challenges into the future.”
In a similar vein, the ILO also called on BRICS countries to take the lead in forging a socially just future of work, as labour markets face disruption from AI and the green transition.
During the recent BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting, BRICS Labour Ministers adopted the Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting (LEMM) Declaration. This declaration places social justice, the future of work, and a just transition firmly at the centre of their shared priorities.
Speaking to delegates via video message, Houngbo commended the Brazilian presidency for championing the importance of South-South and triangular cooperation and thanked the BRICS countries for their commitment to promoting decent work and social justice.
"We face enormous challenges – from AI-driven disruption to the climate crisis – but we also see immense potential. With the right policies, we can turn risk into opportunity, especially in the Global South," Houngbo mentioned.
He stressed that with their major economies and large technology sectors, BRICS countries are uniquely positioned to shape global standards — and that in doing so, they must ensure no one is left behind.
Harnessing AI for decent work
Leading the ILO delegation on the ground, Laura Thompson, Assistant Director-General for External and Corporate Relation of ILO highlighted that AI does not have to widen inequality. Instead, it can be harnessed for good but only if workers have a say, through meaningful social dialogue, in how AI is used.
She pointed out that BRICS countries are particularly well-placed to lead transformations towards a rights-based approach to AI in workplaces through South-South cooperation.
Just transition: Protecting vulnerable workers
Thompson also emphasised the urgent need for a just transition that protects vulnerable workers, particularly those in informal or low-income jobs. She cited ILO data showing that:
- 1.2bn livelihoods are at risk due to ecosystem collapse,
- 2.4bn workers endure dangerous levels of heat, and
- up to 216mn people could be displaced by climate-related events.
At the same time, opportunities are emerging. Clean energy jobs now outnumber those in fossil fuels, and nature-based solutions could create up to 32mn jobs by 2030. To prepare for these new opportunities, the ILO urged BRICS countries to invest in skills development particularly for youth, women, migrants, and informal workers, who are most at risk of being left behind.
A new vision for social protection
The LEMM Declaration also underlined the urgent need for universal social protection in a rapidly changing world of work. With the protection gap widening especially for platform workers and those in climate-vulnerable countries, Thompson called for a fresh approach.
She said: "It must be inclusive, flexible, and portable – especially for migrant workers who power many BRICS economies."
Houngbo also praised innovative national initiatives, including Brazil’s Brazilian National Service for Industrial Training (SENAI), Russia’s Workforce 4.0, India’s digital skilling projects, China’s vocational education efforts, and South Africa’s sectoral training authorities. He encouraged scaling up these initiatives through South-South cooperation, highlighting Brazil and the ILO’s joint programme, Social Justice for the Global South as a promising model.
Looking ahead: Building momentum for COP30
The ILO encouraged BRICS countries to continue aligning climate, labour, and social policies into a coherent and inclusive agenda particularly with Brazil set to host COP30. Houngbo reaffirmed the ILO’s commitment to supporting BRICS through the Global Coalition for Social Justice, providing guidance, research, and technical cooperation.
The meeting wrapped up with BRICS labour ministers agreeing to boost cooperation on just transition and AI, strengthen the BRICS virtual liaison office with a new social protection observatory, and support initiatives such as the BRICS productivity platform and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) network. Talks were also held with the Indian delegation ahead of its 2026 presidency. Ahead of the meeting, the ILO and ILO International Training Centre (ITCILO) hosted a gathering in Brasília where BRICS experts discussed how emerging technologies are reshaping work.
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