WHT Scholars’ reflection on Ditchley’s conference on making the future work for all workers

Breakout room (Group A) as part of the Ditchley’s conference “Making the future work for all workers”: Wilsona Jalloh (top left) participates in Group A discussions

The Ditchley Conference was a two-day session that explored the role of technology and globalization in delivering a better future for all workers with emphasis on the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference looked at the role of the government, civil society organizations and the private sector in providing the education needed for workers to be fit for purpose in the job market.

The discussions used a Chatham House rule which facilitated honest, open conversations. Participants were diverse with a mix of experience, expertise and leadership which were relevant for the discussions. We deliberated on what is driving current trends that are shaping the future of work and, how they might be addressed on the individual, family, community, national and international level so as to prepare people for the future.

It was a great learning experience for us WHT scholars, engaging in such rich dialogue with experts in the field of education, the job market, civil society organizations, civil servants, and a host of others in the private sector. What we all had in common as participants, was our passion for deliberating what it would take to create a future that works for all workers in the labour force.

Coming from developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin American, the conference was an opportunity to hear examples of how countries with good governance systems work in providing for the welfare of their citizens as well as their challenges encountered.

The fourth industrial revolution has been mystifying for many workers who lack the skills needed to thrive in the technology markets. The deliberations highlighted mid-career workers who have difficulties finding jobs that were willing to employ them and invest resources to equip them with the skills needed to do their work. In developing countries, however, the labour market still has big problems on the demand side, rather than on the supply side. This means that, in Latin America or Africa, discussions are less about how to satisfy the job vacancies but about how to create them.

Technology was recognized as an enabler for achieving better social outcomes in areas such as health care. It was suggested that higher education institutions should develop curriculum that are relevant to the job market by having engagements with the technology private sector to understand the skills needed for their work. The discussion helped the WHT Scholars to think about the problems of the higher end of the labour demand in our countries, especially in the technology sector, where the lack of skilled workers is a concern.

A government and private sector role highlighted was that of understanding the relationship between technology, people and the workplace and explore ways of facilitating this three-way relationship to get the best out of it. The need for diverse voices and continuous dialogue that are worker driven was identified as key for creating this future that accommodates all workers.

It was established that COVID-19 has left a legacy of remote working and that organizations should be open to offering hybrid modes of working or risk missing out on great candidates who are not interested in working full time from a designated office space.

The conference concluded with plenary feedback of what was discussed in the breakout groups, providing summaries of suggestions to provide workers with a sense of agency and ability to adapt, rather than feel that their future has been determined by forces beyond their control.

The Ditchley Conference 2021 was an all-round unique learning experience which will impact us as we go back to our countries to formulate policies that are aligned with equipping the labour force in our countries for the global job market.