Key issues affecting the world of work addressed by ILO Governing Body

GENEVA (ILO News) - The Governing Body of the International Labour Office concluded its 352nd Session, during which it addressed a range of key issues affecting the world of work and reviewed specific country cases.

The Governing Body approved the International Labour Organization's (ILO) 2026-29 Strategic Plan, which prioritizes social justice and decent work through a renewed social contract, stronger labour institutions, and support for workers and businesses transitioning to formality and the green and digital economies. The plan also seeks to enhance the ILO's role in a revitalized multilateral system. The Governing Body also provided guidance on the programme and budget proposals for 2026-2027 that will be submitted to the 353rd Session of the Governing Body for decision.

The Governing Body also acknowledged the progress of the Global Coalition for Social Justice. Launched in November 2023, the ILO initiative now includes more than 300 partners, including more than 85 governments and 40 international organizations. It encourages concrete steps to reduce inequalities, alleviate poverty, and promote social justice worldwide.

The Governing Body approved key messages for the Second World Summit for Social Development, set for 4-6 November 2025 in Qatar. The messages, prepared by the ILO Working Party on a New Social Contract for Our Common Agenda, will be shared with UN officials and national representatives to support negotiations on the Summit's political declaration. The Governing Body also tasked the Working Party with drafting a resolution on the ILO's tripartite role in implementing Summit outcomes, to be examined in March 2025 and possibly adopted at the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) in June 2025.

The Governing Body also addressed efforts to democratize ILO governance, instructing the Director-General to promote the ratification of the 1986 Instrument of Amendment to the ILO Constitution. The Governing Body decided to defer its decision on alternative options to its 353rd Session in March 2025.

The Governing Body also recommended that the 113th ILC adopt a draft resolution on changing the status of Palestine as a liberation movement in the ILO, so that Palestine could be invited to participate in ILO meetings as a non-member observer State. In the discussion on the enhanced programme of development cooperation for the occupied Arab territories (OPT), the Governing Body expressed profound concern at the increasingly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and its impact on the world of work. It called on urgent measures to advance decent work in the OPT and requested the Office to report at its next meeting on the impact of the current situation in the world of work and implementation of the ILO emergency response.

The Governing Body also noted with deep concern the repercussions of the crisis in Lebanon on the labour market. The Governing Body welcomed the ILO emergency response efforts in Lebanon. It further requested the Director-General to submit at its 353rd Session an assessment of the crisis on constituents and an update on the ILO emergency response plan.

Regarding Ukraine, the Governing Body expressed strong concern over Russia's ongoing aggression, with support from Belarus, and its impact on workers and employers. It again urged Russia to halt hostilities and withdraw troops. It reaffirmed support for Ukraine's tripartite constituents and called for increased resources for Ukraine's recovery. It also requested enhanced resource mobilization for other affected countries and asked the Director-General to report on the situation's impact on the world of work in March 2025, including ILO's engagement with UN bodies.

As part of the ILO's supervisory procedures, the Governing Body examined several country cases, including Bangladesh, Belarus, Guatemala, Myanmar, Nicaragua and Venezuela.