Decision on the 17th item on the agenda: Report of the Working Party on the Functioning of the Governing Body and the International Labour Conference

Composition of the Governing Body: Update on the status of ratification of the 1986 Instrument for the Amendment of the Constitution of the ILO

The Governing Body requested the Director-General to continue promotional efforts for the ratification of the 1986 Instrument for the Amendment of the Constitution of the ILO, including through direct contacts with member States, and to report at the 332nd Session (March 2018) on the results obtained and the feedback from Members concerned on the reasons which prevent or delay such ratification.

(Document GB.331/INS/17, paragraph 5.)

Improving the functioning of the International Labour Conference:

Analysis of the 106th Session (2017) of the Conference

Following the discussion and lessons learned from the 106th Session of the Conference (June 2017), the Governing Body:

(a) took note of the successful trialling of the first set of amendments to the Standing Orders of the Conference set out in Appendix II of document GB.329/INS/18;

(b) decided to continue to explore further improvements taking into account the discussion in the Working Party;

(c) requested the Director-General to prepare for its consideration at the 332nd Session (March 2018) a detailed plan of work for the 107th Session of the Conference (May–June 2018) based on a two-week format.

(Document GB.331/INS/17, paragraph 22.)

Improving the functioning of the International Labour Conference:

Comprehensive review of the Standing Orders of the Conference

The Governing Body:

(a) took note of the additional proposed amendments for the simplification and modernization of the Standing Orders of the International Labour Conference;

(b) requested the Director-General to undertake inter-sessional email and Geneva-based consultations with the three groups for the purposes of an in-depth review of the proposed amendments and drafting of any additional amendments, as may be necessary;

(c) decided that the progress of such consultations be reported to the Working Party at the 332nd (March 2018), 334th (November 2018) and 335th (March 2019) Sessions of the Governing Body with a view to finalizing a comprehensive package of amendments to the Standing Orders of the International Labour Conference for validation by the Working Party and possible approval by the Governing Body in March 2019 as part of the Governance Initiative.

(Document GB.331/INS/17, paragraph 26.)

Review of the role and functioning of the Regional Meetings

The Governing Body:

(a) adopted the principle that each member State would be invited as a full Member to only one Regional Meeting with the Governing Body having the discretion of inviting on a case-by-case basis any member State as an observer to other Regional Meetings;

(b) requested the Office to prepare for its consideration at the 332nd Session (March 2018) a consolidated version of the Rules for Regional Meetings and the Introductory note based on the guidance provided during the discussion for adoption and referral to a future session of the Conference for confirmation.

(Document GB.331/INS/17, paragraph 41.)