Gyeonggi Province and ILO to Host 'International Labor Festa'... Discussing Future Labor Policies for Youth and Local Governments

Gyeonggi Province, ILO, and Ministry of Employment and Labor to Co-host World's First
'2025 International Labor Festa'
Interactive Global Festival Featuring Dialogue with the Governor and International Labor Forum

Gyeonggi Province, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, will host the '2025 International Labor Festa' at KINTEX Exhibition Center II in Goyang on December 16 and 17, under the theme 'Youth, Local Governments, and the Future of Work.'

'2025 International Labor Festa' poster. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

This marks the first time that local governments, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the central government are co-hosting such an event. The main agenda will center on the role of local governments and the formulation of future labor policies in response to technological changes such as artificial intelligence.

Notably, the '3rd Global Youth Employment Forum (G.Y.E.F.)' led by the ILO will be held in Gyeonggi Province, marking its first time in Asia. Following its inaugural events in Geneva, Switzerland in 2012 and Abuja, Nigeria in 2019, this forum stands as the largest international gathering where young people and policymakers from around the world seek solutions for youth employment.

The event will be attended by key figures from international organizations, including Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dongyeon, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Younghoon, ILO Director of Employment Policy Lee Sangheon, ITUC Deputy General Secretary Jordania Aurenya, and IOE Africa Adviser Amadou Sako.

Major domestic labor, management, and government representatives will also participate, including Kim Dongmyeong, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, Yang Kyungsoo, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and Sohn Kyungshik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation. In particular, 97 youth delegates from 50 countries (34 from Korea and 63 from overseas), jointly invited by the ILO and Gyeonggi Province, will take part directly to discuss future labor agendas and draft a 'Call to Action for Youth Employment.'

The first day, December 16, is designated as 'Policy Day.' In the morning, a session titled 'Dialogue with 100 Youth: Responding to the Voices of Youth on the Future of Work' will be held. Governor Kim Dongyeon, Minister Kim Younghoon, and Director Lee Sangheon will join as panelists to engage with youth panelists on practical concerns such as ▲social mobility ▲work-life balance ▲the future of jobs in the age of AI, and to explore policy directions.

In the afternoon, the International Labor Forum session will follow. Through overseas case studies such as Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom and Huila Department in Colombia, participants will discuss 'Decent Work and the Role of Local Governments.'

The following session will focus on 'Policy Responses of Local Governments to the Digital Transformation of Work,' examining the European Union's platform work directive and the case of Brandenburg, Germany, to share alternatives for the rapidly changing labor environment.

Of particular note, Nicolas Canosa, Director of External Cooperation at the Ibero-American Youth Organization (OIJ), an international public organization with 21 Latin American member countries, will speak as a guest. OIJ's main agenda includes promoting youth social participation, employment, education, and responses to digital transformation, as outlined in initiatives such as the 'Ibero-American Youth Pact.'

On December 17, designated as 'Dialogue Day,' the 3rd 'ILO Global Youth Employment Forum' will take place. The forum will feature in-depth discussions on 'Inclusive Employment Solutions and Youth Labor Rights in the Digital and Green Economy.' In the final session, youth participants will present the 'Call to Action for Youth Employment' that they have drafted over the two days, concluding the event with a vision for the future of work as envisioned by youth.

Additionally, on December 17, side events will include a book concert with Lee Sangheon, Director of the ILO Youth Employment Department and author of 'Why Are Good Jobs Always Scarce?', as well as a roundtable discussion on creating safe platform workplaces, with participation from platform labor organizations and support agencies.

Hong Seongho, Director of the Labor Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "This International Labor Festa will serve as an opportunity for local governments to take the lead in formulating future labor policies and cooperating with the international community amid technological change. We hope this will be a venue where youth, labor, management, and government from around the world come together to establish new standards for 'decent work.'"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.