EU Statement - 113th ILC - Standard-Setting Committee: Biological hazards - Closing Statement - Committee

EU Statement - 113th ILC - Standard-Setting Committee: Biological hazards - Closing Statement - Committee

European Union

Statement

International Labour Conference
113^th session

(2^th June - 13^th June 2025)

_____________

Standard-Setting Committee: Biological hazards

Closing Statement - Plenary

_____________

Geneva, 13 June 2025

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EU Statement

Standard-Setting Committee: Biological hazards

Closing Statement - Committee

Geneva, 13 June 2025

Chair,

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

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this statement.

1. We welcome that the Committee concluded this important task and that the Conference adopted a new ILO Convention and a Recommendation on the prevention and the protection against biological hazards in the working environment. These instruments will improve the ILO's body of standards and will be an important contribution to promoting and realizing the fundamental principle and right to a safe and healthy working environment. Let me underline that this Convention constitutes the first binding international instrument that specifically and comprehensively addresses biological hazards in the working environment at the global level.

2. Exposure to biological hazards at work can lead to a substantial number of fatalities, diseases and injuries; poor prevention increases the economic burdens, disrupts businesses, and challenges governments, ultimately impacting the global economy significantly. Governments, in collaboration with social partners, can play a crucial role in mitigating these effects. A new international labour standard will provide governments the necessary guidance to protect workers, support businesses, and strengthen their economies.
   
   We appreciate that we discussed most of the issues in a constructive manner, taking into account the different views expressed. This allowed the Committee to find agreement on several delicate and crucial provisions, notably on the definition of biological hazards. We reiterate our concern about how some sensitive issues regarding ILO language were addressed by this Committee.

3. In this second year of the standard-setting discussions, we were able to substantially improve both instruments, including the sections on the national policy, the principles of preventive and protective measures, employers' duties and responsibilities, the rights and duties of workers and their representatives, as well as provisions on reporting and data collection.
4. Chair, we thank you for conducting these discussions in an effective and efficient manner that allowed us to conclude the work in time. We also thank the Vice-Chairs of the Employers and Workers groups as well as colleagues of the Governments Group for their contributions to developing a common understanding of this crucial matter.

5. We thank the Office for its support and guidance and the interpreters for an excellent job in facilitating our work. We also thank the members of the drafting committee for reviewing the instrument's language at late hours.

Thank you, Chair.

*North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.