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His Excellency Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia, addressed the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva on 4 June 2026, 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 support people, development, quality of life, and a more sustainable and inclusive future.
In his remarks, Minister Al-Rajhi welcomed the International Labour Organization Director-General’s report, "A decisive stage: Harnessing artificial intelligence for decent work,” noting that artificial intelligence presents significant opportunities to improve productivity and labour market efficiency while also creating 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,” Minister Al-Rajhi stated.
Minister 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 labour market transformation. The speech also highlighted the Kingdom’s use of modern technologies and artificial intelligence to advance compliance and protect labour 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 Labour Market Strategy, the Wage Protection Programme, 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.
The 2026 International Labour Conference comes as labour markets worldwide face rapid technological change and uneven impacts across countries, sectors, and workers. Minister 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 labour policy discussions, advancing international partnerships, and supporting fair, inclusive, and future-ready labour markets.
