Hemispheric Workshop “Artificial Intelligence, digital platforms and labor rights in the Americas”
Topics:
LABOR
Working conditions
MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS
Use of information and communication technologies
Event date:
09/11/2025 to 09/12/2025
Place:
Bogotá
Host Country:
Colombia
Objectives:
General objective:
- To enhance the knowledge and strengthen the capacities of Ministries of Labor and social actors to strategically address the challenges and opportunities presented by technological advancements—particularly AI—in the world of work, while promoting institutional innovation, decent work, and regulatory frameworks aligned with new forms of employment.
Specific objectives:
- To identify, exchange, and analyze the impacts of AI on the world of work, particularly regarding the transformation of skills required for employment, and to explore strategies enabling Ministries of Labor to anticipate and respond to these emerging demands.
- To share and analyze experiences related to the use of AI and other emerging technologies across the various areas of intervention within Ministries of Labor.
- To exchange and analyze policies and regulatory frameworks developed by Ministries of Labor in the region aimed at addressing work on digital platforms from a rights-based perspective.
- To develop policy recommendations that guide Ministries of Labor in responding to the challenges and opportunities associated with emerging technologies—especially AI—with a focus on their impact on employment, their potential to strengthen institutional capacity, as well as the growth of work on digital platforms.
Organizers:
This is an activity of the Inter-American Network for Labor Administration (RIAL), co-organized by the OAS and the Ministry of Labor of Colombia. It is part of the 2025-2027 Work Plan of the IACML.
Relevant documents:
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 Base Document and Agenda - September 10 | 398.83 KB |
 Information Bulletin | 350.66 KB |
| List of Participants - September 3 | 321.98 KB |
Opening remarks, Jesús Schucry Giacoman, Director, Department of Human Development, Education and Employment, SEDI, Organization of American States.
Presentations:
1st Session – AI, employment and skills: What can we expect and what should we do?
Guiding questions for presentations and dialogue:
- What are the main challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence in transforming occupations and skills for employment in your country? Please consider the impacts across different economic sectors and population groups.
- What strategies is your country developing, particularly from the Ministry of Labor, to anticipate and respond to the impacts of AI on employment? What are the main achievements, challenges, and lessons learned from these strategies?
Moderator:
Minister Antonio Sanguino, Minister of Labor of Colombia and Chair of the Inter-American Conference of the Ministers of Labor (IACML).
Presentation by OAS, María Claudia Camacho, Chief, Labor and Employment Section, DHDEE.
Presentation by ILO, Janine Berg, Senior Economist, Research Department.
Presentation by OECD, Mark Pearson, Deputy Director, Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs.
Presentation by ECLAC, Andrés Espejo, Specialist, Social Development Division.
Presentation by OAS Center of Excellence on AI, Rodrigo Durán, CEO, National Center on Artificial Intelligence of Chile (CENIA).
Presentation by Panama, Juan Guerrero, Director of Innovation, Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (MITRADEL).
Presentation by Argentina, Viviana Diaz, Expect in Information and Communication Technologies, National Directorate of Labor Statistics and Studies, Secretariat of Labor, Employment and Social Security.
Presentation by Brazil, Paula Montagner, Vice-Minister for Labor Statistics and Studies, Ministry of Labor and Employment.
2nd Session – AI and emerging technologies for the benefit of Ministries of Labor
Guiding questions for presentations and dialogue:
- What AI-based tools or applications is your Ministry currently using or considering for implementation? Which are the main results or outcomes observed? We suggest considering areas such as employment services, job training, labor inspection, case and complaint management, among others.
- What institutional challenges and advantages has your Ministry encountered in adopting new technologies, particularly the use of AI? What strategies are being pursued to overcome the challenges and leverage the advantages found?
Moderator:
Minister Pia Glover-Rolle, Minister of Labor and the Public Service of The Bahamas, Chair of Working Group 1 of the IACML/OAS.
Presentation by the IDB, Pablo Ibarrarán, Division Chief, Social Protection and Labor Markets.
Presentation by OAS Center of Excellence in Science and Technology, Reynaldo Villarreal, CEO of AudacIA, Simón Bolívar University.
Presentation by Jamaica, Lyndon Ford, Director of the Electronic Service Exchange, Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
Presentation by Canada, Kimberley Kargus, A/Executive Director of Enterprise Data and AI Strategy and Business Alignment and Eric Lavergne, Executive Director of Enterprise Data, Interoperability and Intelligent Solutions, Employment and Social Development Canada.
Presentation by Mexico, Julio Cesar Leon, Director of Inspection at the Unit for Decent Work, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.
3rd Session – Work on digital platorms and labor rights
Guiding questions for presentations and dialogue:
- What legal or regulatory provisions exist in your country regarding work on digital platforms? What are the main rights and obligations of those who work on these platforms?
- What are some of the challenges being experienced in relation to regulating platform work? Identify measures which have been undertaken to address these challenges. Where measures have not yet been implemented to address these challenges, possible measures may be identified.
Moderator:
Diego Garzon, Chief of the Office for Cooperation and International Relations, Ministry of Labor of Colombia, representing the Chair of the IACML/OAS.
Presentation by ILO, Tulio Cravo, Regional Specialist in Public Policies and Productivity, ILO Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean.
Presentation by Fairwork Project, Oxford University, Alessio Bertolini, Principal Researcher, Oxford Internet Institute.
Presentation by Chile, Nicolás Ratto Ribó, Jefe de la División de Políticas de Empleo, Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social.
Presentation by Spain, Lucila Finkel, General Director of New Forms of Employment, Ministry of Labor and Social Economy.