Spain Hosts ILO Workshop Exploring AI and Digitalization in Workplace Safety

On April 28, 2025, Madrid became a central platform for global dialogue on the future of workplace safety as the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Spain and the National Institute for Safety and Health at Work (INSST) jointly commemorated the World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The commemorative event, held in a hybrid tripartite technical workshop format, was dedicated to addressing the theme adopted globally by the ILO this year: the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalization for occupational risk prevention.

High-Level Participation Marks Spain’s Commitment to Labour Standards

The opening ceremony featured Félix Peinado, Director of the ILO Office for Spain, who emphasized the transformative impact of digital technologies on labour practices. He also spotlighted the release of a timely ILO report titled The Role of AI and Digitalization at Work, which delves into how emerging technologies are reshaping occupational safety and health dynamics. Peinado stressed the growing importance of safeguarding workers’ mental health amidst rapid digital transitions in the workplace.

Joining him was Joaquín Pérez Rey, Secretary of State for Labour at Spain’s Ministry of Labour and Social Economy. In a significant announcement, Pérez Rey confirmed Spain's intention to ratify ILO Convention No. 191, which focuses on labour protection and reflects the country’s proactive stance on adapting international labour standards to new technological realities.

Dialogue Between Government, Employers, and Trade Unions

True to its tripartite model, the event brought together key stakeholders from Spain’s labour landscape. Representatives from major trade unions—CCOO (Workers’ Commissions) and UGT (General Workers' Union)—as well as employer organisations CEOE (Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organizations) and CEPYME (Spanish Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises), contributed to an insightful panel discussion. The session, moderated by ILO Technical Advisor Sara López, examined both the opportunities and risks digital transformation brings to workplace safety and labour rights.

Panelists explored the potential of AI to predict and mitigate hazards through real-time data analytics, as well as the ethical and regulatory challenges it poses. Issues raised included algorithmic transparency, surveillance concerns, mental health stressors, and the digital divide among workers.

Global Expertise Adds Depth to National Reflections

Adding international perspective, Joaquim Pintado Nunes, Director of the ILO’s Department of Occupational Safety and Health in Geneva, presented the newly launched ILO report on the integration of AI and digitalization in workplace systems. His presentation outlined not only the potential for automation to reduce exposure to hazardous conditions but also the unintended risks, including psychosocial stress and job insecurity, that come with poorly managed digital transitions.

Other international and national experts in technology, occupational health, and industrial relations shared case studies and best practices, underlining the urgent need for updated regulatory frameworks and inclusive dialogue processes to protect workers in AI-driven environments.

A Path Forward: Governance, Prevention, and Dialogue

The workshop concluded with a unified call for strengthened governance systems that are equipped to handle the complexities of AI and digitalization in work settings. Discussions highlighted the need for social dialogue mechanisms, new training programs to equip safety professionals with digital competencies, and investment in inclusive technologies that protect all workers, especially those in vulnerable employment conditions.

This initiative is part of the ILO’s global agenda to position safe and healthy working environments as fundamental rights. As AI and platform-based work models become increasingly integrated into labour markets, coordinated responses from institutions, employers, and workers are essential to ensure that digitalization serves as a tool for enhancing—not undermining—human dignity at work.

Spain’s event stands as a robust example of how countries can leverage tripartite collaboration to navigate the fast-evolving intersections of technology, health, and labour rights.