Labour backs push for decent work agenda

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The International Labour Organization has expressed strong support for the Group of Seven Labour and Employment Ministers’ renewed commitment to promoting quality jobs and advancing decent work standards as global economies grapple with rapid technological change and labour market disruptions.

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The ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo made these remarks during a ministerial meeting convened by France’s Labour and Solidarity Minister, Jean-Pierre Farandou, held on the margins of the International Labour Conference at the headquarters of the International Labour Organisation.

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The meeting brought together G7 labour ministers alongside the executive vice-president of the European Commission to discuss coordinated responses to evolving labour market challenges, including workforce displacement risks, skills gaps and rising concerns over labour exploitation in global supply chains.

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In his opening address, Houngbo warned that labour markets were undergoing profound shifts driven by technological innovation, economic uncertainty and widening global imbalances, stressing that policy responses must prioritise fairness and inclusion.

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“Economic transformation must go hand in hand with social justice,” Houngbo said in a blog post, underscoring the need for policies that ensure growth does not come at the expense of workers’ rights and protections.

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The ILO chief welcomed the G7’s endorsement of new initiatives aimed at strengthening decent work frameworks, including the adoption of a standards‑based toolkit designed to identify and mitigate risks of forced labour in the extraction of critical minerals.

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The initiative is seen as increasingly significant as global demand for minerals used in clean energy technologies, electric vehicles and digital infrastructure continues to rise, intensifying scrutiny of supply chains.

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“As the demand for critical minerals rises, we face the risk of an increase in forced labour and other forms of labour exploitation,” Houngbo said. “The critical minerals that underpin the economies of the future must be grounded in decent work and respect for fundamental principles and rights at work.”

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He also commended France’s efforts to advance fair recruitment practices for migrant workers through a dedicated toolkit aimed at preventing exploitation, reducing vulnerability, and strengthening safeguards across cross‑border labour mobility systems.

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According to the ILO, migrant workers remain among the most exposed to recruitment‑related abuses, particularly in sectors with complex subcontracting structures and weak regulatory oversight.

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The G7 labour ministers concluded their meeting by reaffirming their commitment to strengthening labour standards as a foundation for resilient economies and fair global competition. They also agreed on new areas of cooperation, including skills development for artificial intelligence, improved labour market participation across age groups, and enhanced support for labour mobility and career progression.

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A key outcome of the discussions was the proposal for a “G7 AI Training Hub”, designed to help workers adapt to rapid technological change and ensure that the benefits of artificial intelligence are more broadly shared across labour markets.

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Houngbo reiterated the ILO’s readiness to support G7 members in implementing the agreed initiatives, noting that international cooperation would be essential to building a fair and sustainable global labour system.

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As governments navigate the twin pressures of technological disruption and geopolitical uncertainty, the ILO chief’s intervention reinforces growing calls for a labour framework that balances competitiveness with social protection and decent work standards.

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