Human Resources Minister Calls for Responsible AI to Shape Future of Work at ILC

Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi headed the Kingdom’s delegation participating in the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), held from June 1 to 12, 2026, in Geneva. The Kingdom’s delegation includes representatives of the three production parties: governments, employers, and workers.

 The minister addressed the conference’s plenary session today, emphasizing the importance of responsible artificial intelligence in shaping a more inclusive, productive, and sustainable future of work. The minister highlighted Saudi Arabia’s designation of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to harnessing advanced technologies to serve people, development, and quality of life, and support a more sustainable and inclusive future.

 In his remarks, Al-Rajhi welcomed the report of the Director-General of the International Labour Organization, titled “A moment of choice: Harnessing artificial intelligence for decent work,” noting that artificial intelligence presents significant opportunities to improve productivity and labor market efficiency while also posing challenges that require balanced and responsible policies.

 “The future of work in the age of artificial intelligence will not be determined by technology alone, but by the ability to invest in people, develop skills, enhance protections, and ensure that technological transformation creates quality and sustainable jobs,” Al-Rajhi stated.

 Al-Rajhi also highlighted the National Skills Platform, which uses artificial intelligence to support skills records, learning pathways, and skills assessments, alongside the development of the Saudi Classification of Skills and Occupations to keep pace with labor market transformation.

 Al-Rajhi also highlighted the Kingdom's use of modern technologies and artificial intelligence to advance compliance and protect labor rights, including digital tools and predictive analytics that help identify risks, improve inspection efficiency, and detect irregular practices at an early stage.

 Recent initiatives include the continued implementation of the Labor Market Strategy, the Wage Protection Program, and the Qiwa platform, which has deployed generative artificial intelligence and AI agents to serve more than two million establishments and 12 million private-sector workers across the Kingdom.

 This year’s session of the International Labour Conference comes as labor markets worldwide face rapid technological change and uneven impacts across countries, sectors, and workers. Al-Rajhi stressed that international cooperation is essential to ensuring that artificial intelligence is used responsibly and fairly and that its benefits are shared more broadly.

 Saudi Arabia's participation in the International Labour Conference reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to contributing to global labor policy discussions, advancing international partnerships, and supporting fair, inclusive, and future-ready labor markets.