29 May 2025 NEW YORK – The International Labour Organization (ILO) has reaffirmed its
unwavering dedication to promoting social justice and decent work through South-South and
Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) at the 22nd Session of the High-Level Committee on South-South
Cooperation, held at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on 28 May.
Representing the ILO, Anita Amorim, Head of the Emerging and Special Partnerships Unit,
highlighted the organization’s pivotal role in facilitating knowledge exchange and capacitybuilding among developing countries. She emphasised the the ILO’s commitment to supporting
the GLobal South as they share best practices and lessons learned in areas such as social
protection, skills development, and labour market policies, to better equip them to address a
range of challenges that they face.
In addition, the ILO and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)
organized a panel discussion on the sidelines of the SSTC, to explore ways in which Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) can be leveraged to tackle pressing
development challenges in the Global South. The government of Indonesia and Brazil, global
leaders, diplomats, and leading experts took part, and the discussion was informed by policy
frameworks and collaborative models emerging from BRICS, the G20, and broader SSTC
networks.
The event addressed the dual promise and peril of AI in transforming economies, societies, and
labour markets in developing countries.
Key topics discussed included the role of AI in job transformation, skills development, and social
protection in the Global South; the value of social dialogue and collective bargaining in designing
inclusive technology strategies; and policy recommendations emphasizing investment in
underfunded sectors such as the care and green economies, as well as worker redeployment
over displacement.
Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Director of the ILO Office for the United Nations in New York,
moderated the session. Drawing from her leadership in labour and social policy across Africa,
she emphasised that “AI is not just about automation—it is about equity, capacity, and decent
work. Through South-South cooperation, we can shape a digital future that includes everyone.”
The panel included José Gilberto Scandiucci, Minister-Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of
Brazil to the UN, who reflected on Brazil’s G20 and BRICS leadership roles and highlighted Brazil’s
push for just transitions, worker protections, and inclusive AI governance. He stressed that AI was
a central theme in the BRICS Employment Working Group under Brazil’s 2025 presidency and a
key priority for South Africa’s G20 chair personship.
Dwi Wisnu Budi Prabowo, Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the UN, highlighted Indonesia’s
efforts to promote South-South and Triangular Cooperation, particularly in digital inclusion and
capacity-building. He underscored that AI is a double-edged transformation and called for multistakeholder dialogue, employment-centred policies, and inclusive innovation to ensure no one
is left behind.
Joining remotely, a representative of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) reinforced
the employers’ participation in the debate regarding inclusive AI and reaffirmed the importance
of social dialogue. ITUC provided key comments as well on workers perspectives.
Xiaojun Grace Wang, from the UNOSSC, concluded the event by highlighting the power of
innovative financing and partnerships in scaling STI solutions across the Global South. She
reinforced the call for global labour standards that address AI-related inclusion.
The event concluded with clear policy recommendations for strengthening cooperation on AI
governance and digital equity; and renewed partnerships across governments, UN agencies,
academia, and the private sector to support sustainable AI adoption in the Global South.
Lessons from these forums, including policy frameworks on digital skilling and responsible AI
use, are expected to inform further recommendations on aligning technology with social justice
and labour standards. For countries across the Global South, South-South Cooperation remains
not only a practical tool, but it is also a political choice to build digital futures that are inclusive,
worker-centred, and anchored in social justice.
By serving as a platform for participants to share best practices and solutions based on their own
experiences, the ILO-organized session provided a space for countries of the Global South to
provide recommendations and policies proposals based on their own experiences and needs.
The ILO’s overall participation in the SSTC, and its leading role in advocating for social justice and
decent work, aligns with the organization’s broader strategy to leverage SSTC to help achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is in line with the ILO’s commitment to
strengthening solidarity and collaboration among developing nations, and its own goal of
enhancing the effectiveness of its programmes and initiatives, ensuring that they are tailored to
the specific needs and contexts of partner countries