Conference: Building the future of work and trade

Jointly organized by the ILO’s EMPLOYMENT and RESEARCH departments, the ILO Country Office for Mexico and Cuba, and the European Commission, this online conference is part of two EU funded projects “Building partnerships on the future of work” and “Trade, enterprises and labour markets: Diagnostic and firm-level assessment (ASSESS)”.


    The ILO Employment Policy and Research Departments, the ILO Country Office for Mexico and Cuba, and the European Commission are organizing a joint conference on “Building the future of work and trade.” The event is part of two EU funded projects “Building partnerships on the future of work” and “Trade, enterprises and labour markets: Diagnostic and firm-level assessment (ASSESS)”.

    The project “Building partnerships on the future of work” is being undertaken by the ILO and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. It aims at developing new evidence around some specific and understudied Future of Work themes. It also has the objective of building strategic alliances linked to the future of work involving the EU, key international and multilateral actors, non-EU countries, and social partners.

    The project ASSESS on “Trade, enterprises and labour markets” aims at improving our knowledge on the assessment of the impacts of trade on labour markets at the macro, meso and firm level based on case studies in partner countries, one of which is Mexico.

    This conference will bring together ILO and external experts, European and Mexican stakeholders, and constituents to discuss the future of work and trade. International trade is widely considered to be an engine for economic growth and development that enhances labour markets by increasing productivity and creating employment opportunities. Trade has benefited workers at all skill levels in both developed and developing economies and helped to lift millions of people out of poverty. However, alongside these positive effects there are also challenges, since not all workers and firms are able to benefit from trade to the same extent. The goal of the conference is to serve as platform for discussion and to help in building a common understanding of the current evolutions in trade, the challenges linked to labour governance and their implications for the world of work.

    Preliminary Agenda

    The meeting will take place on Tuesday 12 October from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. (Mexico time) / 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Geneva time) via Zoom.

    Session 1 – Trade and decent work in Mexico: what we know so far?
    The discussion in this session will be based on the findings from the EC Project ASSESS on “Trade, enterprises and labour markets” implemented by the ILO Research Department.

    Session 2 - Roundtable "What future for trade and jobs?”
    This session will be organized as a roundtable discussion gathering experts and decision-makers from Mexico, Europe and Canada (tbc). The discussion will be guided by a series of questions related to ongoing changes in trade patterns (such as the growing role of services, regionalization, and reshoring) and on the regulatory framework for sustainable trade and decent work.

    Session 3 - Q&A with Social Partners

    Interpretation between Spanish and English will be available throughout the conference.

    To participate in the workshop, please register here
    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.