Technology through the lens of occupational hazards and risks

Nancy Leppink, Chief of the ILO’s Labour Administration, Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health Branch

The premise of occupational safety and health – my field of specialization — is that work should do no harm to health and in the best of worlds, should support it. But discerning whether technology and new forms of work are doing harm or doing good can often be tricky.

Let me give a personal example:

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Why financial services matter in the fight against climate change

Craig Churchill, Chief, ILO’s Social Finance Programme

As extreme weather events increase in intensity and frequency, building up the resilience of the poorest communities – often the most exposed to climate change – is critical. And financial services have a role to play.

For poor families the impact of extreme weather, such as floods and droughts, often lead to the loss of livelihoods. This in turn forces families to resort to damaging coping mechanisms, including skipping meals, taking children out of school and borrowing money at high rates. It leaves them even more vulnerable to the next disaster.
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Skills and the Future of Work

Srinivas B. Reddy, Chief of the ILO’s Skills and Employability Branch, Employment Policy Department

As transformative change sweeps through the world of work, investments in skills’ development and training systems are becoming more important than ever. The International Labour Organization is playing a leading role in identifying forward-looking skills development policies that will help governments, employers and workers alike adapt to the new realities of the future of work.

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