News on International Labour Standards

Press release

North Kalimantan Province in Indonesia launches a Joint Inspection Team to strengthen labour standards in the fishing sector

The newly launched Joint Inspection Team strengthens the fishing industry and offers improved protection for workers, especially those employed onboard fishing vessels.

Maritime Labour Convention

Maritime leaders unite in Manila for seafarers’ rights

The Philippines hosted a landmark international conference culminating in the Manila Declaration, a global call to uphold the dignity, safety, and rights of over two million seafarers.

Skills development

Timor-Leste takes a major step toward agroforestry advancement

The launch of the Agroforestry Sector Working Group marks a major step in uniting government institutions, development partners and stakeholders to strengthen Timor-Leste’s agroforestry sector.

International Year of Cooperatives

ILO contributes to the 2025 International Summer School on Cooperative Law

The 2025 Global Cooperative Law Summer School in Pula, Croatia reaffirms that ILO Recommendation No. 193 on the promotion of cooperatives is a cornerstone of cooperative development, providing guidance for laws that strengthen cooperatives and...

News

Thai senate advances workers’ rights through key dialogue with ILO

The Thai Senate Labour Committee visited the ILO in Bangkok to discuss ratifying ILO’s fundamental conventions on freedom of association and collective bargaining, reaffirming Thailand’s commitment to international labour standards.

Lesotho advances towards stronger Labour Migration Governance through ILO Conventions 97 and 143

A national workshop held in Maseru has advanced Lesotho’s commitment to strengthening labour migration governance and aligning national legislation with international labour standards.

International labour standards

New ILO project strengthens worker protections in Lao People's Democratic Republic

Canada-funded initiative supports safer, fairer workplaces and helps Lao People's Democratic Republic meet international labour standards.

International Labour Standards

Namibia ratifies the ILO Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No.156)

Namibia becomes the 48th ILO member State to ratify Convention No. 156.

Zambia advances labour standards compliance through ILO workshop

A three-day Normative Capacity-Building Workshop hosted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) at Pamodzi Hotel has marked a significant step forward in Zambia’s efforts to enhance compliance with international labour standards.

Decent work

Bangsamoro Labour Code progresses toward lasting peace, decent work

The Bangsamoro region of the Philippines is taking an important step to finalize its first-ever labour code before the plenary submission, which will address decent work challenges and support peacebuilding efforts.

WSSD2 Brief

Fundamental principles and rights at work: A critical crossroads

This brief highlights the urgent need to uphold fundamental principles and rights at work as universal human rights essential to fair globalization. It presents alarming global data and calls for renewed commitment and transformative action to...

Gender Equality Reporting

ILO empowers Ethiopia’s reporting of International Labour Standards

Ethiopia strengthens its commitment to gender equality at work through a three-day ILO training on international labour standards. The workshop equipped government, employers, and workers with tools to improve reporting and policy action. Supported...

Labour reforms take spotlight at Ukraine recovery conference

The ILO announced a €3.5 million European Union contribution to help Ukraine align its labour laws and social dialogue systems with international standards.

Sectoral labour data and statistics

ILO integrates sectoral labour statistics to strengthen access to world of work data

Updated sectoral webpages now combine data from ILOSTAT with key resources on labour standards, policies, and research across major industries — helping constituents, researchers, and policymakers make evidence-based decisions to promote decent work.

Social protection reform

Towards comprehensive social protection in Indonesia

The ILO facilitates a consultation process in which Indonesia's tripartite partners discussed how the ILO’s Convention on Social Security can inform upcoming reforms in the country.

Fishing sector

Global momentum builds to strengthen fishers’ rights at UN Ocean Conference

On World Oceans Day, Côte d’Ivoire became the latest country to ratify the ILO Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188), marking a major step toward advancing labour rights at sea.

Social Protection

ILO and European Union launch diploma in social protection for the Africa portuguese-speaking countries

The diploma aims to strengthen the technical and strategic capacities of social protection professionals, contributing to the modernization and sustainability of social security systems in the participating Portuguese-speaking countries.

World Day against Child Labour

ILO partners with PAACLA to recognize initiatives combating child labour in agriculture

The inaugural award recognizing efforts to eliminate child labour in agriculture is presented to seven companies and one business association in the sector.

Op-ed

Not just labour, but lifelines: Recognizing the essential role of Filipino domestic workers

On International Domestic Workers' Day, Khalid Hassan, Director of the ILO in the Philippines, recognizes the vital contributions of domestic workers and reaffirms the need for fair wages, protections and dignity.

ILO adopts landmark Convention on biological hazards in the working environment

The International Labour Conference – the annual meeting of the International Labour Organization – also held a first standard-setting discussion on decent work in the platform economy, among other issues.