Lagos State has underscored the critical role of industrial harmony in driving development, stressing that a stable labour environment is indispensable to the state’s economic growth and long-term progress.

The Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, said this at the opening of a two-day training at NUT Pavilion in Alausa for labour union leaders.

The workshop, themed, ‘Sustaining a Cordial and Harmonious Industrial Relations in the New World of Work,’ was strategically designed by the ministry to bridge the gap between traditional labour practices and modern workplace demands.

In his keynote address, Ayantayo observed that the “future of work” has already arrived, catalysed by rapid technological shifts and the normalisation of remote work systems.

“The new world of work is no longer a distant future; it is our present reality,” the Commissioner stated. “Driven by automation and the demand for rapid skill acquisition, this era requires a total shift in how we approach traditional work structures and expectations.”

He emphasised that for Lagos State to maintain its trajectory of growth, union leaders must transition from adversarial stances to a model of collaborative partnership. He noted that a stable industrial climate is not just a preference but a prerequisite for achieving the state’s broader developmental goals.

Supporting the commissioner’s stance, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Olubusola Abidakun, described the training as a timely intervention. She highlighted that globalisation and shifting economic realities are creating a complex landscape that requires both employers and employees to be more agile.

Abidakun urged participants to translate the insights gained during the sessions into actionable strategies that promote workplace stability.

Responding on behalf of the organised labour, the Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Lagos State Chapter, Abiodun Aladetan, lauded the state’s unique approach to industrial relations. He noted that Lagos continues to set a national benchmark by fostering an environment where government officials and union leaders sit as peers in a learning environment to ensure mutual progress.