On Tuesday, 9 June 2026, Minister of Labour, Public Service and National Insurance, Hon. Pia Glover-Rolle, outlined The Bahamas’ approach to artificial intelligence and the future of work during an address to delegates at the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference, positioning the country as an active participant in shaping how emerging technologies benefit workers, businesses, and national economies.
Addressing delegates during a plenary session focused on the ILO Director General’s Report on the influence of AI on labour, Minister Glover-Rolle emphasised her agreement with ILO Director General Gilbert Houngbo’s view that the outcomes of the AI revolution are not predetermined but will be shaped by the choices governments, employers, and workers make today.
Drawing a distinction between previous technological eras and what she described as the emerging “intelligent age,” Minister Glover-Rolle noted that societies are moving beyond simply accessing information toward interpreting and acting upon it in meaningful ways.
She told the gathered delegates that The Bahamas has already begun preparing for this transition through legislative reforms, workforce training initiatives, and investments in education: “Our approach begins with responsibility,” she said, pointing to the country’s recently updated data protection legislation and the Government’s commitment to introducing AI-specific legislation through its Blueprint for Progress.
Minister Glover-Rolle highlighted the success of Upskill Bahamas, the Government’s free online learning platform, which has already attracted more than 14,000 participants and includes artificial intelligence training opportunities. She announced that enrollment is expected to expand to 25,000 participants in coming months and noted plans for a future Bahamas AI Academy to provide more advanced training and workforce development opportunities.
The Minister stressed that accessibility and inclusion must remain central to AI adoption, particularly for small island developing states: “AI has deepened the risk of a digital divide that exposes workers to disruption without allowing them to benefit. We are determined to close that divide.”
She outlined the Government’s broader strategy to prepare workers for a changing economy through expanded training in AI-resilient areas like technical and vocational education, including investments in
the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) and the introduction of the Bahamas Polytechnic Accreditation and Training Hub (BPATH), which will allow students to earn industry- recognised certifications before graduating high school.
Minister Glover-Rolle also pointed to practical applications of artificial intelligence already underway
across the public sector. These include the use of AI by the Ministry of Tourism to support destination
marketing efforts, leak detection systems at the Water and Sewerage Corporation, and AI-assisted
content creation by Government communications teams. Throughout her remarks, the Minister emphasised the importance of social dialogue and The Bahamas’ longstanding tripartite tradition of collaboration between the government and labour stakeholders:
“As these technologies enter our workplaces, we will continue bringing government, employers, and
workers together to ensure that the benefits of innovation are broadly shared and that workers
remain at the center of the conversation.”
Concluding her address, Minister Glover-Rolle encouraged delegates
to move beyond discussion and focus on practical action, calling on countries to share the experiences and lessons learned as they prepare their workforces for the opportunities and challenges ahead, noting The Bahamas’ commitment to leveraging the advantages of AI and digital technologies to advance progress: “The Bahamas intends to embrace the intelligent age for the benefit of our workers and our future.”
The Minister’s address is one of the highlights of The Bahamas’ participation in the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, where delegates from governments and labour organisations are
participating in discussions that will outline the future of work globally, regionally, and nationally for
years to come.
