Questions and answers about the 1986 Instrument of Amendment to the ILO Constitution
13 February 2026
- What is the 1986 Amendment about and what would it do?
- How would it affect the composition of the Governing Body?
- What is the relationship between the 1995 Amendment to the Standing Orders of the International Labour Conference and the 1986 Amendment to the Constitution?
- What are the regional protocols?
- What impact would the 1986 Amendment have on the election of the Director-General?
- Is there an impact on the way the ILO Constitution may be modified?
- What is the status of ratification of the 1986 Amendment?
- How can a Member State accept the 1986 Amendment to the Constitution?
What is the 1986 Amendment about and what would it do?
In 1986 the International Labour Conference adopted an Instrument of Amendment which would change 11 of the 40 articles of the Constitution of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The 1986 Amendment addresses three main areas:
the composition and governance of the Governing Body of the Office;
the procedure for appointment of the Director-General; and
rules governing how the Constitution may be amended.
How would it affect the composition of the Governing Body?
The principal aim of the 1986 Amendment is to make membership of the Governing Body more representative by prescribing means of appointment of its members that takes into account the various geographic, economic and social interests of its constituent groups.
If the 1986 Amendment enters into force, the number of regular members of the Governing Body under the Constitution will increase from 56 to 112 - and the manner of their allocation will also be affected. Of the 112 seats, 56 would be allocated to government representatives and 28 each to employers' and workers' representatives. There would no longer be non-elective seats reserved for the ten Member States of chief industrial importance.
Of the 56 seats reserved for governments, 54 would be distributed among four geographic regions - Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe - with a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 15 seats for each region. Distribution of seats would be weighted by taking into account the number of Member States within the region, their total population and their economic activity assessed by appropriate criteria (gross national product or contributions to the budget of the Organization). The initial allocation provided for is 13 seats for Africa, 12 for the Americas and alternately 15 and 14 seats for Asia and Europe. The two remaining seats would rotate: one between Africa and the Americas and the other between Asia and Europe.
Under the 1986 Amendment, Government delegates representing the Member States from each of the four regions would form an electoral college to fill the seats for each region. Each electoral college would need to ensure that a substantial number of Members appointed to fill the regional allocation of seats are chosen on the basis of population size and to take into account an equitable geographical distribution. Other factors, such as economic activity of the Members in accordance with the special characteristics of the region, should also be taken into consideration.
Pending the entry into force of the 1986 Amendment, the composition of the Governing Body was modified in 1995 by the adoption of the amendments to the Standing Orders of the International Labour Conference to reflect as far as possible the composition provided for under the 1986 Amendment. The 1995 arrangements implemented the total number of Government seats (56) and their regional distribution as foreseen under the 1986 Amendment by increasing the number of deputy members and addressing their regional distribution (for more detail see the following question).
At the same time, the 1986 Amendment makes allowances for special characteristics within regions where subdivisions may be formed on a sub-regional basis to appoint Members separately to fill the seats assigned to the sub-region. It is important to note however that the four regions can be adjusted by mutual agreement among all governments concerned.
What is the relationship between the 1995 Amendment to the Standing Orders of the International Labour Conference and the 1986 Amendment to the Constitution?
In 1995, when it appeared unlikely that the 1986 Amendment would attain the necessary ratifications within the near future, the Conference adopted, as an interim measure, changes to its Standing Orders with the objective to reflect as far as possible the 1986 Amendment as regards the composition of the Government group. The total number of Government seats (56) was attained by increasing the number of deputy Government members from 18 to 28 (and from 14 to 19 for the Employers and Workers respectively). The Conference further addressed the regional distribution of the Government seats so that the combined total of regular and deputy seats in each region would be aligned with the initial allocations foreseen under the 1986 Amendment. This was attained by using ballot papers in the government electoral college that list candidates from the four regions in accordance with the regional distribution of the seats.
However, the 1995 reform does not offer the full range of changes proposed by the 1986 Amendment. In particular, it does not affect the distinction between elective seats and non-elective seats which are attributed to Members of chief industrial importance. It also does not increase the number of regular members, which can participate in votes. Besides, it does not alter the manner in which constitutional amendments are made, nor the process for the appointment of the Director-General.
What are regional protocols?
As noted above, the 1986 Amendment to the ILO Constitution foresees that each regional government electoral college would need to ensure that a substantial number of Members appointed to fill the regional allocation of seats are chosen on the basis of population size and that an equitable geographical distribution is assured. Other factors, such as economic activity of the Members in accordance with the special characteristics of the region, should also be taken into consideration. The means of implementing these principles would be specified and agreed by the governments of each electoral college in protocols.
These protocols would thus allow regions to determine their own internal arrangements for the selection of their members of the Governing Body (including, for example, rotation, re-election, sub-regional arrangements), while remaining fully consistent with the constitutional framework.
To date, three of the four regions—Africa, Asia, and Europe—have adopted protocols in anticipation of the 1986 Amendment’s entry into force. The European region adopted a global protocol in 1981 governing the allocation of seats between Western and Eastern Europe, as well as two subregional protocols, one for each subregion, setting out their respective internal arrangements. The American region has not yet adopted a protocol, although an agreement in principle on the bases of a future protocol was reached in 1983. This was not considered an obstacle to the adoption of the constitutional amendment but will be required for its region-specific implementation.
Given the emergence of new Member States and the significant institutional and geopolitical developments that have occurred since these protocols were concluded nearly forty years ago, Member States may consider reviewing and updating them to ensure that they reflect contemporary realities and remain fit for purpose.
What impact would the 1986 Amendment have on the election of the Director-General?
Under the 1986 Amendment, the Director-General of the ILO would continue to be appointed by the Governing Body but the appointment would be submitted to the International Labour Conference for approval.
Is there an impact on the way the ILO Constitution may be modified?
The 1986 Amendment would change article 36 of the Constitution covering future amendments and set out voting and ratification requirements for amendments related to specific considerations.
Adoption of any amendment relating to the fundamental purposes of the Organization, the permanent establishment of the Organization, the composition and functions of its collegiate organs, the appointment and responsibilities of the Director-General, the constitutional provisions relating to international labour conventions and recommendations, and the provisions of article 36 of the Constitution, would require three-quarters of the votes cast and would have to be ratified or accepted by three-quarters of the Members of the Organization in order to come into effect.
For any other amendment to the Constitution, two-thirds of the votes cast and ratification by two-thirds of the Members would be required to take effect.
What is the status of ratification of the 1986 Amendment?
To enter into force, the 1986 Amendment must be ratified or accepted by two-thirds of ILO Member States, including at least five of the 10 Members of chief industrial importance. As there are currently 187 Member States, the 1986 Amendment needs to be ratified by 125 of them. As of 3 July 2026, 131 ratifications or acceptances were registered, of which two were from Members of chief industrial importance (India and Italy).
A further three ratifications only from Members of chief industrial importance (from among Brazil, China, France, Germany, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland and the United States of America) are required for the 1986 Amendment to enter into force.
How can a Member State accept the 1986 Amendment to the Constitution?
The consent of the Member State must be expressed by a representatives having power to bind the State in external relations and done in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of the national constitutional order.
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FAQ: Instrument of Amendment to the ILO Constitution, 1986