Focus on Social Justice, AI, and Policy Tools Mark 2025: ILO

The International Labour Organization (ILO) closed 2025 celebrating a series of policy initiatives, global engagements, and digital tools aimed at advancing social justice, regulating emerging forms of work, and strengthening social protection systems. From new labor standards to AI-based policy platforms, the year reflected the ILO’s effort to adapt its mandate to shifting economic and technological conditions.

At the center of these efforts was a consistent message delivered across global forums. “Decent work and social justice for all” framed the ILO’s participation at events ranging from the World Economic Forum in Davos to the World Summit for Social Development, underscoring the organization’s view that labor policy remains a core pillar of economic development.

At the World Economic Forum, Gilbert Houngbo, Director GeneraL, ILO, raised concerns related to inequality, informality, and technological change in the world of work. Throughout 2025, the organization carried these themes into major international processes, including COP30, G20 discussions, International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings, and the Financing for Development Forum. These engagements reflected growing recognition that labor market outcomes are closely linked to climate policy, fiscal reform, and development financing.

Social justice featured prominently in the ILO’s agenda. On World Day of Social Justice, participants from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the European Union joined discussions on decent work, inclusion, and rights-based approaches. At the International Labour Conference, member states adopted a new convention and recommendation on protection from biological hazards in the working environment, addressing risks highlighted during recent global health crises. The conference also held extended discussions on the platform economy, contributing to renewed momentum around the transition from informal to formal employment.

Several long-term initiatives reached milestones in 2025, says the organization. Convention No. 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work continued to gain ratifications, reinforcing global standards on workplace conduct. The ILO’s just transition guidelines and fair recruitment initiative marked a decade of implementation, reflecting sustained demand for policy frameworks that link labor rights with environmental and migration challenges. At the United Nations General Assembly, the ILO launched its first State of Social Justice report, which reviewed progress in poverty reduction, productivity, and education, while identifying areas where gaps persist.

Innovation played a central role in the ILO’s work during the year, particularly in response to digitalization. Through its Observatory on AI and the Digital Economy, the organization expanded tools designed to support policymakers and social partners. One such initiative was the enhancement of the Digital Labour Platform Policy Tracker, which added a component dedicated to collective bargaining agreements related to platform work. The new feature provides structured information on agreements between trade unions and platform companies, including their scope, content, and legal status. Initially focused on the European Union, the tracker is expected to expand to other regions, incorporating judicial decisions and legislative updates.

The ILO also introduced ReguLens, an AI-powered platform developed by its International Training Centre in Turin. ReguLens is designed to help employer and business membership organizations analyze draft regulations and prepare policy positions under tight timelines. By generating a structured initial review of legal texts in about a minute, the tool aims to support informed engagement with policymakers without replacing technical expertise. Pilots in around 20 countries showed that AI-generated analyses aligned closely with internal assessments, according to the organization, highlighting the role of technology in managing regulatory complexity.

Beyond digital labor and regulation, social protection and health coverage were key priorities for ILO during the year. On International Universal Health Coverage Day, the ILO outlined progress made in 2025 to strengthen social health protection systems through financing strategies, capacity building, and multisector cooperation. Working alongside governments, employers, and workers, the organization emphasized the link between universal social protection and improved health outcomes, particularly in reducing poverty and vulnerability. As custodian agencies for Sustainable Development Goals on social protection and health, the ILO and the World Health Organization (WHO) convened discussions at the World Summit for Social Development in Doha, examining how coordinated governance can advance universal coverage.

Training and technical assistance supported these efforts. New learning tools, including a global online course launched in September, reached more than 1,000 participants. Country-level initiatives in Africa and Latin America focused on reviewing health insurance schemes, assessing financial sustainability, and strengthening digital management systems. The ILO also released two publications examining universal health insurance design and social health protection for workers in the informal economy, reflecting continued emphasis on evidence-based policymaking.

The organization’s regional engagement reinforced these themes. In the Dominican Republic, leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean committed to stronger action on decent work, inclusion and social justice. Joint work with UNICEF showed a continued decline in child labor, with millions of children gaining greater access to education. Across its portfolio, the ILO reported over 850 active projects worldwide implementing its decent work agenda, alongside growing participation in the Global Coalition for Social Justice.

The year concluded with the adoption of the Doha Declaration at the World Summit for Social Development, reaffirming commitments to place social justice, decent work, and human dignity at the center of economic and social policy. Looking ahead to 2026, the ILO says it will continue focusing on regulation of new forms of work, digital tools for social dialogue, and strengthened social protection systems, as part of its broader mandate to support workers, businesses, and governments across regions.