National Dialogue on the Future of Work held in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa (ILO News): A half-day dialogue on Future of Work brought together in Addis Ababa ILO’s social partners, policy makers, civil society and academia to discuss pertinent issues related to future of work and provide views and recommendations.

Mr. George Okutho, Director of ILO Country Office Addis Ababa, duing his key note remark informed participants that ILO will be celebrating its 100 years old in 1919 with different initiatives, among which is promoting social justice. He further explained that, 'Future of Work' was propsed to initiate dialogues among member countries to get reflections and recommendations to address challenges and opportunities in the world of work.

During the dialogue that took place on 23rd of November 2017, ILO's constitutents selected two themes: Decent Work for all and governance of work to discuss in the context of Ethiopia.

Decent jobs for all

• What types of new jobs and occupations will emerge and in which sectors?
• What new competencies do these occupations require in existing and new jobs?
• How does the education and training system respond to these challenges?
• In what way can the education and training system be reformed to benefit from opportunities and respond to emerging challenges?
• What type of policies are required to ensure that structural transformation, driven by technology and innovation, create new and better jobs?
• What will be the roles of governments, social partners and other groups in guiding and shaping this process for the current and next generation?

Governance of work

• Will the existing norms/standards, institutions and forms of regulation help meet present and future governance challenges?
• Does this demand new or different governance structures to regulate work effectively in a dynamic setting?
• What types of labour market institutions and legal instruments be in place to enforce labour laws?
• What should be the evolving balance between public and private governance including new forms of collective organization?
• How does the envisaged structural transformation affect the nature of work governance? What are the governance challenges?

This national dialogue was held in response to the launch the Future of Work Centenary Initiative by the ILO Director-General, Mr. Guy Ryder, during the International Labour Conference in June 2015, where he called for global debate on the future of work by considering major transformations which are taking place all over the world.