wiegoglobal 10d ago

As artificial intelligence transforms the world of work, critical questions remain about who benefits, who is protected, and who has a voice in shaping the future. In this intervention at the International Labour Conference (ILC) 2026, Laura Alfers, International Coordinator of Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing (WIEGO), reflects on the connections between AI governance, informal employment, social protection, and inclusive social dialogue. Drawing on the experiences of workers in both the digital and informal economies, she highlights the need to strengthen labour institutions and ensure that all workers—regardless of their employment status—can exercise their rights, organize collectively, and participate in decision-making processes that affect their livelihoods. This contribution forms part of the discussion on the Director-General's report on AI and the future of work at the International Labour Conference. Speaker: Laura Alfers, International Coordinator, WIEGO #ILC2026 #FutureOfWork #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #SocialDialogue #InformalEconomy #WorkersRights #WIEGO #LabourRights #ILO #DecentWork #TradeUnions