Tripartite Meeting on Social and Labour Implications
of the Increased Use of Advanced Retail Technologies

Geneva, 18-20 September 2006

Participation

The Tripartite Meeting on Social and Labour Implications of the Increased Use of Advanced Retail Technologies (Geneva, 18-20 September 2006) was composed of participants nominated by all interested member States as well as 15 Employer and 15 Worker participants invited after consultation respectively with the Employers’ and Workers’ groups of the Governing Body of the ILO.

ILO tripartite meetings

This Meeting was part of the ILO’s Sectoral Activities Programme, which aims to assist governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations to develop their capacities to deal equitably and effectively with the social and labour problems of particular economic sectors. Tripartite meetings bring together a cross-section of government, employer and worker representatives from countries that are prominent or have a strong interest in a given sector. In line with the ILO’s strategic objectives, these meetings also aim to strengthen tripartism and promote social dialogue at the international level.

Purpose of the Meeting

The Meeting examined the role of new retail technologies in shaping the employment landscape in commerce, focusing mainly on the introduction of radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies and their employment impact across the distribution chain in general and more specifically in retail, using for this purpose a report (pdf, 492k) prepared by the Office as a basis for its discussions. The Meeting also adopted a set of conclusions on ways to reconcile the interests of all stakeholders in the face of a changing employment landscape. A report on the Meeting's discussion and proposals for a programme of follow-up activities to implement those conclusions are contained in the Note on the Proceedings.

Contact address for more information