ILC114 - EU Statement - Committee on Application of Standards - Argentina C.81/129/150

ILC114 - EU Statement - Committee on Application of Standards - Argentina C.81/129/150

International Labour Conference

114th Session

Geneva, June 2026

Committee on the Application of Standards

Argentina

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No.81)

Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No.129)

Labour Administration Convention, 1978 (No.150)

Thank you, Chair.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Republic of Moldova, the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, as well as the United Kingdom align themselves with this statement.

The EU and its Member States are committed to the respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights, including labour rights. We promote universal ratification and effective implementation of fundamental ILO Conventions and support the ILO supervisory system in its crucial role of promoting and supervising the application of ratified standards.

While we note the information provided by the Government regarding the delegation of duties to the provinces and the possible difficulties of collecting information, we request the Government, in line with the Committee of Experts, to review the operations of the labour inspection system to identify shortcomings relating to coordination, as well as the number of inspectors at the federal and provincial levels and to strengthen the capacity of the labour inspectorate, including by providing adequate funding and equipment.

We call on the Government to take additional measures to ensure the effective organisation and functioning of the labour administration system, in particular by ensuring that there are sufficient inspectors and by placing the labour inspectorate under the supervision and control of a central authority, as provided for in Conventions n°81 and n°129.

We further request information on steps taken or planned to extend the functions of the labour administration system to workers in non-standard forms of employment or untypical forms of employment, in accordance with Article 7 of Convention No.150.

Concerning the situation on stability of employment and conditions of service of labour inspectors, we encourage the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure the inspectorate is composed of public officials whose legal status and conditions of service guarantee stability in employment.

We request the Government to ensure the effective functioning of the labour inspection system in agriculture, as enshrined in Convention 129, including in the remote rural areas referred to by the CGT RA.

We request the Government to provide information on the labour inspections carried out at the provincial level and the penalties imposed, on the inspectors having tenure and the number employed on contracts at federal and provincial levels, as well as on the measures taken to ensure adequate and effective penalties for unregistered work are applied.

In addition, we urge the Government to ensure the Central Inspection authority publishes an annual report on the work of labour inspectorates, covering the subjects indicated in Article 21 of Convention No. 81 and Article 27 of Convention No. 129.

Lastly, we encourage the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure consultation, cooperation and negotiation between the public authorities and the most representative employers' and workers' organisations, and to provide information on the functioning of the tripartite bodies.

The EU and its Member States will continue to follow the situation closely and remain committed to supporting the effective application of international labour standards.

Thank you, Chair.

1. ^ North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.