ILO to hold student pitch contest to promote a safe and healthy working environment

ILO hosts an open pitch contest for students at the EXPO Hall, titled “Shining Hat”, at the Expo 2025 venue, Yumeshima Island, Osaka, starting at 3:00 pm on Thursday, 17 July 2025. The participants will propose Calls to Action for health, safety and well-being at the workplace. Ms Yoko Oginome, a renowned Japanese singer who collaborates with the ILO on public relations and awareness campaigns, will make a special guest appearance. To attend this admission-free event, you must have a ticket for the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025, though no advance registration is required.

The ILO has organized this competition in a bid to encourage young people to learn and think critically about and take action for their rights to safe and healthy work. As many as 113 students in 28 teams from 12 Japanese high schools and universities and 88 students in 22 teams from overseas applied for the programme and have explored health, safety, and well-being from various perspectives, including business and human rights, gender, and mental health, during a series of learning sessions leading up to the final event. The contestants, screened during the preliminary sessions, will compete in the pitch contest on 17 July. The top prize and other awards will be granted to the teams chosen for the effectiveness, feasibility and sustainability of their proposals.

Ms Oginome, the special guest of the day, has produced and provided music as an ILO supporter since December 2021. She said, “We are living in an age of diversification. I’m excited about this opportunity to hear your thoughts on health and other topics, as well as your ideas on more authentic workstyles. Let’s think about the future of work together, with music as part of our lives!” The programme of the event includes her live performance, in addition to her talk session with Ms Aki Mukai, a TV personality who serves as the event’s MC.

You are very welcome to join! No advance registration is required.

For inquiries : [email protected]

We are living in an age of diversification. I’m excited about this opportunity to hear your thoughts on health and other topics, as well as your ideas on more authentic workstyles. Let’s think about the future of work together, with music as part of our lives!

Yoko Oginome

KEY INFORMATION

'The ILO Youth Congress: Designing Safety, Health and Well-being at Work in the Digital Age'

Date and Time: 3 pm to 6 pm on Thursday, 17 July 2025

Venue: EXPO Hall, “Shining Hat”, the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan

Programme:

• “Work and health” talk session and live performance by Ms Yoko Oginome
• Introduction of the event and related initiatives
• Student teams’ presentations for establishing a healthy and safe working environment
• Awarding ceremony
• Photo shoot session
• Comments from an ILO expert
• Closing

(Master of Ceremonies: Ms Aki Mukai)

CONTESTANTS

• Daido University - Daido Team

  The "Otsubone" robot: a reliable presence for young employees

• Okayama University - COPAIN Team

  Ｗeaving Dignity and Health through Learning: A New Community-Based Safety Net for the World

• The University of Osaka - Nursing Team

  Digital approaches to balancing work and self-care regarding diabetes

• University of Occupational and Environmental Health - A Team

  Ignite a change-resilient workplace through workstyle reforms

• Brigham Young University

  Reduction of heat-related illness among vulnerable outdoor workers

• The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  Alleviating the mental health suffering of elderly labour

• National Taiwan University

  Mental inclusion for new transitions (migrant workers)

• Mahidol University

  Rider support platform (delivery workers)

* Please be advised that photographs will be taken during this event for public relations purposes of the ILO and other organizations.