Challenges in the New World of Work:
How Should We Respond to Emerging Technologies?
The contemporary world of work is undergoing a historic transformation, driven by unprecedented advances in information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI). These technological innovations are not simply enhancing productivity or efficiency; they are fundamentally reconfiguring the very structures, processes, and meanings of work. This transformation has given rise to wide-ranging debates concerning the future of labor, employment relations, and socioeconomic systems.
The emergence of new technologies compels us to ask: How will they reshape the ways in which we work? This question transcends issues of workplace tools or efficiency gains, reaching into the spatial and temporal dimensions of work—where and when it takes place—and into the legal and institutional foundations of labor contracts themselves.
Against this backdrop, this symposium seeks to critically examine the pressing challenges and opportunities posed by these transformations. Bringing together leading scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, it will provide a multidisciplinary forum for rigorous analysis and constructive dialogue. Through these discussions, we aim to articulate concrete, evidence-based strategies to foster a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future of work.
Discussion Themes
(1) Labor Transformation Driven by Emerging Technologies
This session will examine how cutting-edge technologies — particularly AI, robotics, and data science — are reshaping work styles, employment structures, and labor market dynamics. Drawing on recent empirical research and theoretical perspectives, the discussion will illuminate both the transformative potential and the inherent challenges of technological change, and will situate these developments within broader socioeconomic contexts.
(2) Technology Adaptation in an Aging Society
As demographic aging intensifies, societies face the critical task of enabling older workers to adapt to rapid technological change. This session will explore concrete measures to align technological innovation with demographic realities, including reskilling and upskilling strategies, equitable staffing systems, and institutional frameworks that facilitate the active participation of older workers in evolving labor markets.
(3) Flexible Workplaces and the Reconstruction of Labor Law
The proliferation of telework and home-based work has generated novel regulatory and institutional challenges. This session will examine issues related to working time management, occupational safety and health, and the protection of workers’ rights in flexible work arrangements. It will also consider the appropriate scope of employer responsibility in addressing excessive working hours and safeguarding worker well-being, alongside the need for updated legal frameworks to support these shifts.
(4) Protecting Non-Standard Workers and Rethinking Social Security
The rise of platform labor and gig work is challenging the boundaries of traditional employment. This session will investigate the legal and social protection mechanisms required for individuals engaged in non-standard forms of work. It will also explore how social security systems and labor market institutions must be reconfigured to ensure fairness, sustainability, and inclusivity in the future of work.
This symposium offers an invaluable opportunity for business leaders, human resource professionals, labor union representatives, policymakers, and researchers to engage in substantive dialogue on the evolving landscape of work. By integrating diverse perspectives and expertise, it seeks to advance a shared vision for a more just, adaptive, and forward-looking labor environment.
Conference Call link: https://ilera-2026asia.com/papers.html#point8
Submissions for special sessions are invited for the ILERA Asian Congress 2026.
Special Session Submission Guidelines
Special sessions should typically cover topics that extend beyond the track themes or have a special focus or idea.
Each special session proposal must contain the following information:
•Title of the proposed special session.
•Names and affiliations of the organizers (including contact information for each organizer).
•Up to five keywords.
•A summary of up to 250 words stating the topic, idea, and importance of the special session.
•A tentative list of participants who could contribute to the session and the role of the participants (e.g., presenter, discussant, chair, etc.). Note that special sessions should have a minimum of 4 participants.
•Special sessions may have a different format from a regular session, e.g., panel discussion, longer summary talks, or a mix thereof. The session format should be clearly defined in the proposal. Examples of session formats are paper development sessions, presenting research papers, book presentations, round table discussions, etc.
•Proposals will be evaluated by the program committee.
Applicants need to collect this information in a Word document and send it to ilera2026@jil.go.jp. Abstracts for approved special sessions must be submitted according to the same schedule and procedure for regular papers. Please note that all speakers, including chairs, paper presenters, and discussants, must be registered participants in the congress.
Deadline for submission of special sessions: 13 February 2026
If you are new to organizing a session proposal and have questions, please email ilera2026@jil.go.jp