Conference

Transformation and diversity of enterprises: What are the consequences for work and employment in the world

The conference will discuss the future of work, issues of enterprises in its diversity, recent and future developments and implications for the world of work.

The ILO prioritizes its partnerships and work with enterprises. The main objective is to support their capability to promote international labour standards and the quality of work in their internal organization. Also, in procurement policies, supply and innovation. The fundamental role that enterprises can play in implementation of sustainable development was affirmed by the international community through the Sustainable Development Goals.

Programme

  • Session 1: How do enterprises organize themselves to produce and reply to market demands? What are the consequences for work and employment?
  • Session 2: How do firms value work? What balance between economic/financial performance and social performance?
  • Session 3: Transnational enterprises and international labour standards
Detailed programme, practical information

Speakers:

Myriam El Khomri (Minister of Labour, Employment, Vocational training & Social dialogue) and Guy Ryder (Director-General, ILO). Other speakers include representatives from social partners and enterprises and French and foreign experts from institutes including EHESS, ENS Cachan (GERPISA), ISCTE Lisbon, McGill University, University of London, Harvard University, University Paris-Dauphine and the ILO.

Future of work: Challenges and opportunities

Jeff Johnson, deputy director of the Research department at the ILO,answered your questions on how enterprises will tackle the challenges and opportunities of work in the future.

The ushering in of the 21st century brought with it new developments in technology, environmental constraints, globalisation, rise of financial markets. These had a direct impact on enterprises – big and small. So, a change came through in their strategy and organization, which affected employment and working conditions. This was true both for the developed world, and for developing countries. Questions started coming up about the role of enterprises in society – towards employees, customers and suppliers, and their mode of governance.