At the 112th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), government, employer and worker delegations from 187 member states of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) met in Geneva from 3 to 14 June 2024 to discuss important issues relating to the world of work.

The Commission on Standards, which is responsible for ensuring that the standards adopted by the ILO are respected and implemented by the Member States, examined 24 individual cases this time. In particular, it was found that some of the most important conventions and recommendations for the protection of workers’ rights, such as Convention 87 on freedom of association and protection of trade union rights and Convention 98 on the right to organise and collective bargaining, are increasingly being attacked. Added to this is the fact that several governments are siding more with employers’ organisations, complicating discussions between unions, employers and governments. Finally, the weakening of the ILO’s supervisory system and the increasing politicisation of debates within the ILO, which no longer allow decisions to be taken on the basis of objective criteria and the principles of social justice, are increasingly responsible for the failure to respect workers’ rights, according to the workers’ representatives.

An initial discussion took place within the standard-setting committee on protection against biological risks with a view to drawing up new international standards, notably in the form of a convention and a recommendation on biological risks in the workplace. Here again, discussions with the employers’ representatives proved difficult, as from the outset they were against a convention, but in favour of a non-binding recommendation. The workers’ representatives on the Committee were, however, quite satisfied with the good cooperation with the governments, and achieved significant results, including consideration of the physical and mental health and general well-being of workers in relation to biological hazards, provisions relating to the environment, in particular the need to take account of the impact of climatic and environmental hazards on safety and health at work, measures to protect workers’ incomes in the event of isolation, and adequate resources for labour inspectors.

Having initiated the third discussion this year, within the Committee responsible for the recurrent discussion on fundamental principles and rights at work, the ILO Member States adopted conclusions in which they reiterated that respect for human rights, the rule of law and democratic freedoms are essential conditions for the full implementation of fundamental principles and rights in the workplace. This obviously also implies a clear commitment to tripartite social dialogue, recognition of collective bargaining and trade union freedom, and respect for fundamental rights in the context of the green, digital and demographic transition.

Finally, in the committee responsible for the general discussion on decent work and the care economy, the participants highlighted the shortcomings that persist in this area, particularly regarding the funding and implementation of measures guaranteeing access to quality care. Improving the care economy can only be achieved through appropriate policies, particularly in the areas of employment, social protection, training, skills and apprenticeships, and through increased public investment.

In addition to the work of the various committees, the inaugural forum of the Global Coalition for Social Justice and the election of the new ILO Governing Board were also on the agenda of the 112th ILC.

The OGBL was represented at the 112th ILC by Véronique Eischen, member of the OGBL Executive Board, Jean-Claude Reding, Vice-President of the Luxembourg Chamber of Employees (CSL) and Sónia Neves, Head of the OGBL Immigrants’ Department. Katia Neves represented the joint European Secretariat of the OGBL and the LCGB (SECEC).

The article was published in the “Aktuell” (3/2024)