How to ensure international labour standards make a difference in a changing world

BUDAPEST (ILO News) - For a century, the ILO supervisory system has helped countries translate international labour standards into concrete progress monitored compliance. At the heart of this system are two complementary bodies: the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR)* and the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS), both established in 1926. Together, they ensure member states implement, in law and practice, the conventions and protocols they have ratified.

To better understand the role of the Committee today and the challenges it faces in its second century, we spoke with Attila Kun, who joined the CEACR in 2025. Professor and Head of the Department of Labour Law and Social Security at Károli Gáspár University in Hungary, and Professor at the Ludovika University of Public Service in Budapest, he brings more than 20 years of experience in labour law to the Committee.

ILO - As a member, how would you describe in your own words the Committee of Experts’ goals, and what do you see as its core responsibilities in ensuring that international labour standards are effectively applied by member States?

Attila Kun - The ultimate goal of the whole supervisory mechanism is of course to support the overall goals of the ILO - the furtherance of social justice and decent work. The Committee advances this objective by upholding its fundamental values: impartiality, experience and expertise. I would like to underline that on the occasion of its centenary, fully cognizant of its mandate, the Committee passed a new and important Centenary statement (1926–2026), recalling and confirming its values and principles that guide its activities. The Statement emphasizes that the Committee’s comments shall “continue to be accurate, comprehensible, reliable and responsive to ongoing developments.”

I believe that the Committee’s comments must find a balance between two goals. First, to give general, technically non-binding yet authoritative and persuasive, guidance and interpretation on the legal scope, content and meaning of international labour standards. Second, in particular, the comments of the Committee guide the actions of national authorities. In doing so, the Committee must strive to ensure that its work is relevant and functional for all constituents. The Committee must also keep up with the rapid changes shaping the world of work. I believe that the Committee’s comments are trigger points for continuing dialogue with national governments, and must therefore be as specific, concise and operational as possible, creating a normative basis for technical assistance, further dialogue, training, awareness-raising, and positive reforms.

ILO - The November/December 2025 session of the Committee of Experts was your first. Could you please share with us the key highlights of the session?

Attila Kun - This year, the Committee welcomed four new members appointed by the Governing Body at its 354th Session: Professor Kevin Banks (Canada), Judge Athalia Molokomme (Botswana) and Judge Rosalinda Vélez Juárez (Mexico), and me. Naturally, the first year is also about “onboarding” for us and getting to know the working methods.

The confidentiality of the deliberations of the Committee is a fundamental value, so I won’t be able to mention background information on concrete cases or countries. The amount and quality of the work of the Committee is remarkable. This year, the Committee received 1,340 reports under article 22 of the ILO Constitution, corresponding to 73.7 per cent of the reports requested. It also received 856 observations from employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee made 1,658 comments, noting with satisfaction progress made in 25 cases involving 24 countries. The Committee also requested governments to supply full particulars to the Conference at its next session in June 2026 in 3 cases.

In the turbulent geopolitical and global situation in which we are all living in nowadays (exemplified by conflicts, climate change-related natural disasters, health crises etc.), the topic of this year’s General Survey is also of utmost importance, as it focuses on the Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation, 2017 (No. 205). It recommends crisis management methods primarily through employment and decent work.

In connection with the introduction in 2027 of a modernized, streamlined, thematic reporting system, the Committee also started to prepare for this hopefully even more effective method.

Another highlight of the session was the regular and very fruitful exchange with other UN Treaty Bodies in which the ILO stands outs with its unique tripartite identity. This year the focus was on the emerging “business and human rights agenda” (including human rights due diligence etc.).

ILO - Based on your outlook as a Professor of Labour Law with over 20 years of experience, could you please share with us some of the key areas of progress - and remaining gaps - in implementing international labour standards in Central and Eastern Europe?

Attila Kun - The ILO played a key role in assisting many countries in the region during their economic and labour market transformations. It also helped, and continues to help, many countries to prepare for accession to the EU. The level of commitment of countries for dialogue with the ILO varies considerably across the region, there are good and less engaged “students”. For example, well-functioning Decent Work Country Programmes are very positive developments in some countries.

One may think that the ILO has generally less to do in Europe, including Central and Eastern Europe, at least compared to less developed regions of the globe. This is just partly true. The labour markets of many post-socialist countries in the region hold several structural features which, unfortunately, go against some basic ILO values. Many countries in the region are characterized by weak or asymmetrical tripartism, ineffective promotion of collective bargaining, over-prioritization of competitiveness over social rights, and a formalistic (“ticking the box”-type) attitude towards international and supranational (EU) norms. So, there is a lot to do. Luckily, the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for CEE, located in Budapest since 1993 is very active in the region, as well as other initiatives of the ILO, including the ILO CEELex network (a regional network of legal experts). I personally also benefited a lot from working with the local Office and CEELex on various projects.

Universal standards need local contextualisation. To continuously improve the situation in the region, more targeted programmes are needed from the ILO (tailored to local circumstances) and more openness for dialogue and cooperation from (some) governments.

I think that one of the biggest responsibilities and challenges of the 20 members of the CEACR is also to develop true understanding and sensitivity towards the problem of other countries and regions. I feel privileged that I can bring the CEE “flavour” to the Committee.

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*The Committee of Experts on Application of Convention and Recommendation (CEACR), composed of 20 eminent jurists, examines government reports on the implementation of ratified Conventions and provide an impartial and technical evaluation of the application of international labour standards in ILO member States.