Program Tracks

The 21st International Labour and Employment Relations Association (ILERA) World Congress will be in Sydney from 30 August to 3 September 2027 and hosted at the International Convention Centre Sydney by the Australian Labour and Employment Relations Association (ALERA).

The ILERA World Congress will be held at a time of profound transformation for work, workers, employers and the institutions that support them. Around the world, labour markets are being re-shaped by technological disruption, political instability, climate transitions, demographic change and widening inequality. These pressures intersect with long‑standing challenges of job quality, worker voice, regulatory capacity and the need for inclusive and democratic governance. Responding to these developments requires social dialogue, coordinated action and evidence‑informed policymaking focused on the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and that brings together researchers, practitioners, social partners and governments. The World Congress theme ‘Sustainable, productive and decent work: Bridging research, practice and policy’ reflects ILERA’s commitment to supporting analytically rigorous and policy-focused research.

The five conference tracks explore critical dimensions of this agenda.

• Track 1 examines the foundations of decent, safe and healthy work, including how institutions and actors safeguard workers’ wellbeing in changing labour markets.
• Track 2 investigates pathways toward equitable and inclusive work, focusing on the structural and intersecting inequalities that shape labour market outcomes.
• Track 3 considers the role of strong and democratic institutions for work, highlighting the importance of accountability, enforcement and social dialogue.
• Track 4 analyses the implications of decent and productive work in the digital age encompassing the themes of technology, productivity, skills and job quality.
• Track 5 addresses work and sustainable climate transitions, exploring how workers, organisations and communities respond to the urgent need for and adapt to environmental and economic change.

These themes combine to advance research and shape policy and practice to support sustainable, productive and decent work.