The future of reporting on ratified Conventions

Frequently asked questions

• What is the future of reporting?

  The future of reporting aims to streamline the reporting system through a thematic approach, while ensuring effective and meaningful supervision. It seeks to modernize reporting processes in order to facilitate Member States’ engagement and promote peer learning, notably by improving access to information on compliant national laws, regulations and policies.

• What is thematic reporting?

  Under the new system, Governments will no longer submit separate reports for each ratified Convention under article 22 of the ILO Constitution. Instead, they will submit thematic reports. This new approach will be introduced progressively from 2027 onwards. Conventions and Protocols will be grouped into 15 thematic areas. For each area, Governments will submit one Thematic Implementation Report (TIR) covering all related ratified Conventions and Protocols. TIRs will be submitted through a new, user-friendly web application. This approach will reduce reporting burden, facilitate structured reporting, improve the use of information over time and strengthen peer learning among Member States.

• What are the 15 thematic groups?

  As decided by the Governing Body in November 2025 (see GB.355/LILS1/Decision and GB.355/LILS/1), the 15 thematic groups are the following:

  Occupational safety and health	Forced labour	Child labour	Freedom of association, collective bargaining, tripartite consultation	Equality and elimination of violence and harassment
  Labour inspection and labour administration	Employment and social policy	Migrant workers	Social security and maternity protection	Fishers
  Maritime	Working time	Wages	Indigenous and tribal peoples	Specific categories of workers

• What is a thematic implementation report (TIR)?

  A TIR is a single report covering all the Conventions and Protocols within a thematic group. TIRs are structured around a series of requests for information addressing all substantive provisions of the instruments, based on the content of the existing report forms adopted by the Governing Body for each instrument. TIRs will be tailored made so that Governments will be required to complete only the sections that concern the ratified instruments within a given thematic group.

• How will Governments submit their TIRs?

  From 2027, Governments will use a new secure, user-friendly web application to prepare and submit TIRs. The web application will allow information to be saved, updated and reused across reporting cycles, significantly reducing duplication and improving the quality and consistency of reporting.

  When submitting a TIR for the first time, Governments will be asked to provide information on national measures implementing their obligations under the ratified Conventions and Protocols and to respond to any related pending comments from the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR).

• How will Governments update their TIRs?

  Following the initial submission of a TIR, Governments will be required to update it through the web application whenever a report is due, in line with the reporting schedule adopted by the Governing Body. Updates should include information on any developments in law and practice affecting the application of the relevant ratified Conventions and Protocols, as well as responses to any related comments of the CEACR.

• Can Governments download their TIRs?

  Yes. Governments will be able to download their TIRs directly from the web application. This is how Governments will be able to prepare a copy of their reports which they must share with the national social partners, in line with the obligation under article 23(2) of the ILO Constitution.

• Who will have access to the web application?

  The web application will be available to Governments for the purpose of preparing, updating and submitting their TIRs. Based on the Governing Body decision, Workers’ and Employers’ organizations will not have access to it at this stage.

• Will the information provided in the TIRs be publicly accessible?

  With the decision adopted by the ILO Governing Body in November 2025, information submitted in TIRs will be easily accessible to all Governments after examination by the CEACR, through the web application. However, when submitting their TIRs, Governments may designate specific information as restricted, in which case it will not be accessible to other Governments. This arrangement is subject to subsequent review by the ILO Governing Body.

• Will first reports be submitted through the TIR?

  First reports will continue to be submitted based on the detailed report form adopted by the Governing Body for the Convention or Protocol concerned. Subsequent reporting will be carried out through the corresponding TIR.

• What are the reporting obligations in 2026?

  2026 is a transition year to prepare for the shift to thematic reporting. No regular reports under article 22 of the ILO Constitution are requested in 2026.

  As a consequence, only a limited number of reports are requested in 2026, namely:

  • Reports requested by the Committee on the Application of Standards;
  • Reports requested by the Governing Body following decisions under articles 24 and 26 of the ILO Constitution;
  • Early reports requested by the CEACR for 2026 (footnoted cases);
  • First reports that are due in 2026.
• What is the reporting schedule for my country?

  For country-specific reporting schedules from 2026 onwards, please consult the NORMLEX web page on reporting.

• What will be the deadline for submitting TIRs?

  The deadline for submitting TIRs will not change. TIRs must be submitted between 1 June and 1 September (at the latest) of the year in which the TIR is due.

• What will change for social partners?

  While the web application changes the way Governments submit their reports to the ILO, it does not alter the essential role of national social partners in the supervisory system. Workers’ and Employers’ organizations will not have access to the application, as it is designed solely for the submission of Governments’ reports. However, they will continue to participate in the supervisory process as they do today, including by providing observations on Governments’ reports under the established procedures.

  Thematic reporting does not alter Governments’ obligations under article 23 of the ILO Constitution. Governments will therefore continue to be required to communicate copies of their reports to the representative organizations of employers and workers at the national level. To do so, Governments will be able to download their TIRs from the web application and share them with social partners.

  If Employers’ and Workers’ organizations wish to submit observations, they will continue to do so in line with the current practice and established procedures: either through the Government concerned, or by sending their observations directly to the Office.

• Have reporting cycles changed?

  Mostly, not, with one exception for the Labour Inspection and Labour Administration (LILA) group, as explained below:

  

• What are the transitional measures in 2026?

  As mentioned above, in 2026, regular reporting obligations are suspended. During this transitional year, time and resources are dedicated to putting in place the measures necessary to ensure effective implementation of the new reporting approach from 2027. In particular, this includes:

  • adjusting relevant information and training materials (Office);
  • developing the new IT tool and adapting existing information systems (Office, in consultation with constituents);
  • undertaking the necessary preparatory work for the first set of TIRs, which will be due in 2027 (Governments, with ILO technical assistance).
• What technical assistance will the ILO provide to support implementation?

  The ILO will provide targeted technical assistance in relation to the preparation of TIRs and the use of the web application. This assistance may take various forms (for example, regional and subregional webinars, training materials, capacity-building activities, providing copies of Governments’ reports previously submitted, etc.), depending on the needs identified and within available resources. The initial focus of the technical assistance will be on the TIRs to be submitted in 2027. Technical assistance activities are tentatively envisaged to start in October-November 2026.