Welcome: Enrique Ojeda Vila, General Director of Casa de América Introduction: Ambassador Manuel Escudero, Permanent Representative of Spain to the OECD

The world of work will face major challenges in the transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies. Labour markets will need to accommodate significant economic restructuring as jobs will shift between sectors and regions, and many workers will see the nature and tasks of their jobs change as enterprises and workplaces adapt to a greener economy. Fair and inclusive labour markets are necessary to ensure that the three, interrelated dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – can be addressed together in the promotion of a just transition to a net-zero carbon economy. If well managed, the transition can be a net generator of green decent jobs, foster innovation and skills development, and contribute significantly to inclusive growth and poverty alleviation. However, just while the world economy and labour markets were bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic, a new supply shock emerged and triggered a cost-of-living crisis, through energy and food prices. The fallout is particularly strong on households at the bottom of the income distribution, which typically devote a large fraction of their income to consumption of energy and food, and by those individuals not covered by any form of social protection -- some 4.1 billion worldwide, according to recent ILO’s estimates. This panel addressed the role of social dialogue in shaping the transition. Leaders discussed the specific contribution of social dialogue in generating the consensus and mix of policy responses needed to ensure a just transition, while taking into account the immediate priority to protect the most vulnerable from suffering a disproportionate blow from overlapping shockwaves. The panel was moderated by Stefano Scarpetta

The use of non-standard forms of work, such as fixed-term work, agency work and other forms of casual work, can help businesses to navigate difficult periods by providing flexibility in organising their workforce. However, jobs under non-standard arrangements tend to have a lower quality and can also negatively impact stable employment relationships when used to organise permanent work. This panel examined how social dialogue can be used to negotiate an appropriate and balanced use of non-standard forms of employment.

In recent years, the definition of public policies on labour and social protection in Spain has been the result of an intense process of social dialogue between the government, business organizations and trade unions. As a result, up to 14 social agreements have been reached on different issues, including an ambitious reform of the labour law. This panel explored the nature of these agreements and panellists will be invited to comment on the dynamics of the underlying social dialogue processes. The panel was moderated by Raymond Torres.

Working from home can help improve work-life balance and well-being but it can also lead to an increase in working hours and, in combination with AI monitoring techniques, to an increase in stress and job dissatisfaction. This panel discussed how to address the numerous challenges that telework has raised. The panel was moderated by Belén Carreño Bravo.

The inclusion of all stakeholders in the formulation of labour policies strengthens the social contract, reduces conflict at work and strengthens the resilience of businesses. In a changing world of work, it is important for workers and employers to have a collective voice that helps them defend their rights and engage actively in society. This panel addressed the role of social dialogue in strengthening workplace democracy by opening up space for freedom of association. The panel was moderated by Belén Carreño Bravo.