Driving an Inclusive and Productive Digital Transformation for Decent Work

The Regional Forum was co-hosted by Kenya’s Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the International Labour Organization (ILO) through the Partnership for improving prospects for forcibly displaced persons and host communities (PROSPECTS) funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Forum offered a platform to exchange knowledge and experiences to advance decent work and inclusion in the digital economy. It convened 122 tripartite partners, development actors and PROSPECTS implementing partners from Egypt, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Sudan and Uganda.

The Forum discussed:

• Opportunities to enable economic growth and the potential for economic diversification in developing countries through the digital transformation
• Policy challenges and barriers for businesses and underserved groups that arise with non-standard forms of work in the digital economy
• Integrated employment policy frameworks to support full employment, higher productivity, better wages and working conditions, and increased investments in upskilling and innovation
• Emerging responses to global and local challenges such as developing critical digital infrastructure and financial services to facilitate e-commerce and innovation
• Role of social dialogue and innovative partnerships in enabling an environment for decent work and inclusion in the digital economy

The Forum led to a strong consensus on what the gaps and opportunities are and the need for immediate action in advancing decent work and inclusion, particularly in countries where adequate infrastructure, governance and employment policy frameworks are not yet fully established.