Mr. Lamin Camara, Permanent Secretary, at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MoTIE) delivered a powerful address at the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, urging governments, employers, and workers to confront the challenges of technological disruption, inequality, and informality with renewed commitment to social justice.
The conference, convened by the International Labour Organization (ILO), brought together delegates from across the world to discuss pressing issues in the global labour market. Camara’s speech underscored the urgency of protecting workers in an era defined by rapid technological change, climate challenges, demographic shifts, and geopolitical uncertainty.
Platform Economy in Focus
Camara highlighted the rise of the platform economy, where millions of workers earn their livelihoods through digital platforms but often lack basic protections. He called for a global framework to ensure fair treatment, social protection, occupational safety, and respect for fundamental labour rights. “We must ensure that technological innovation serves humanity and not the other way around,” he told delegates.
Gender Equality as an Economic Imperative
Turning to gender equality, Camara noted that progress remains slow, with persistent wage gaps, unequal care responsibilities, and workplace violence continuing to limit opportunities for women. He stressed that equality is not only a matter of human rights but also an economic necessity for sustainable growth.
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work
The Director-General’s report on artificial intelligence featured prominently in Camara’s remarks. He acknowledged AI’s potential to boost productivity and innovation but warned of risks that could deepen inequality and labour market exclusion. He urged responsible governance to ensure AI expands opportunities rather than marginalizes workers, insisting that “the future of work must remain human-centred.”
ILO Standards and Global Commitments
Camara also praised the Committee on the Application of Standards as it marked its centenary, emphasizing the importance of effective supervision and implementation of international labour standards to maintain the credibility of the ILO. He linked these efforts to the outcomes of the Second World Summit for Social Development, which reaffirmed that decent work, social protection, and inclusive growth must remain central to global development.
Interconnected Challenges
Throughout his address, Camara stressed that informality, inequality, climate change, unemployment, and technological disruption cannot be tackled in isolation. He called for coordinated policies, strong institutions, and renewed commitment to social dialogue. “The ILO’s unique tripartite model remains indispensable,” he said, urging governments, employers, and workers to work together to build resilient economies and fairer societies.
A Call to Action
As the conference entered days of deliberation, Camara’s closing words set the tone: “The world is watching. The workers and employers we represent expect leadership. Let us seize this moment to reaffirm our commitment to decent work, social justice, and shared prosperity.”
His speech was widely seen as a call to action for delegates to deliver concrete outcomes on platform worker protections, gender equality, and AI governance — issues that will shape the future of work for decades to come.
