Promoting inclusion and decent work in digital jobs in the Middle East and Africa

The ILO stressed on promoting inclusion and decent work in digital jobs and platform work, while co-hosting first edition of the International Conference in Middle East and Africa.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) co-hosted the first edition of the International Conference on Digital Labour Perspectives for Middle East and Africa Region (MEA) on 28 May 2024 in Cairo. This landmark event brought to the forefront critical discussions on the evolving landscape of work in the digital age, including automation, digitalization, and the gig economy. The conference also delved into the unique challenges and opportunities presented by technology-mediated labour within the MEA region.

The Conference was organized by the International Network on Digital Labor (INDL) and the Access to Knowledge for Development Center (A2K4D) at The American University in Cairo, in collaboration with the ILO’s Partnership for improving prospects for forcibly displaced persons and host communities (PROSPECTS), the Weizenbaum Institute and Université française d’Egypte.

The platform economy is transforming labour markets on a global scale and reshaping the way work is organized. “Digital platforms are unlocking new markets for businesses and creating additional avenues for income-generation for workers, including in the Middle East and African countries. But there are also challenges to secure decent work conditions for all workers”, said Eric Oechslin, Director of ILO Country Office for Egypt and Eritrea, and Decent Work Team for North Africa. He stressed the need to empowering women, youth and traditionally underserved groups to secure a just digital transition that for workers and businesses.

Towards decent work in digital jobs

During the conference the ILO delivered a multi-stakeholder panel on “Promoting inclusion and decent work in digital jobs”. The panel brought together expert speakers to take stock of the opportunities and challenges faced by global and national actors in unlocking decent work in the digital economy, particularly in Egypt and more largely, in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Zulum Avila, Employment Strategies Specialist in the Digital Economy at the ILO, chaired the panel and emphasized the importance of “formulating effective employment strategies to leverage digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) that are inclusive and aligned to decent work principles”.

The panel of experts echoed the ILO’s stance, acknowledging the pivotal role of partnerships to in bridging the digital divide that impacts micro enterprises, small-sized businesses and vulnerable groups within the labour market. The voices of Hoda Dahroug (the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology), Nora Toma (Education for Employment), Iman Raslan (Udacity); Mostafa Essa (International Expert on AI), and Uma Rani (the ILO), converged on the consensus that partnerships are key to design and implement initiatives that integrate target groups into the digital economy, thereby levelling the playing-field for all.

In closing the conference, the ILO encouraged the INDL partners to continue supporting research with innovative perspectives and pathways into decent work in the digital economy in the Middle East and Africa.

This Conference was supported by the Partnership for improving prospects for forcibly displaced persons and host communities (PROSPECTS) in Egypt and the Opportunity Fund project “Promotion, inclusion and protection of refugees and host communities in the gig economy” funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.