ILO discusses the International Labour Standards and their supervision at the European Parliament
Karen Curtis, Head of the Freedom of Association Branch at the International Labour Standards Department, participated in an exchange of views on International Labour Standards and their supervision, organized by the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament (INTA Committee).
20 January 2020
Karen Curtis briefed MEPs from all political parties on the developments in the ILO over the last year, and exchanged on how the ILO can assist the INTA Committee.
“The core of the ILO mandate, to draw up standards, promote their ratification, and support and supervise their implementation through the provision of technical assistance retains its full relevance, if not more, as the Organization embarks upon its second century,” she said.
She underlined the continuing significance of the ILO as a standards-setting body, as evidenced by the overwhelming support shown at the International Labour Conference for the adoption of the ILO’s 190th Convention on Violence and Harassment in the world of work.
During the Conference, the Committee on the Application of Standards adopted conclusions and action-oriented recommendations on 24 cases concerning the application of ratified Conventions. Many of these cases refer to serious concerns in the application of the fundamental Conventions.
In response to several questions by members of the Committee, Ms Curtis explained that the ratification of a Convention is a critical step. It ensures that there is a continuing review of the implementation of that Convention through the ILO’s system of supervision.
She also highlighted the leverage and opportunities that labour provisions in European free-trade agreements have given to ILO concerns and engagements with countries that it might not have had otherwise.
She welcomed the EU-funded technical cooperation projects, which assist ILO Member States to become fully compliant with fundamental labour rights. In recent years, with the support of the EU, the ILO has been able to focus resources for more effective implementation in countries such as Armenia, Bangladesh, Cabo Verde, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. The Trade for Decent Work project carries on this work in mutually identified target countries.
“Our cooperation in recent years with the European Commission has been fundamental to identifying priority countries, where we see the need for action and to be able to sense the openness to improve the situation on the ground,” she concluded. These improvements are facilitated by EU pressure and ILO limelight on key issues.
“The core of the ILO mandate, to draw up standards, promote their ratification, and support and supervise their implementation through the provision of technical assistance retains its full relevance, if not more, as the Organization embarks upon its second century,” she said.
She underlined the continuing significance of the ILO as a standards-setting body, as evidenced by the overwhelming support shown at the International Labour Conference for the adoption of the ILO’s 190th Convention on Violence and Harassment in the world of work.
During the Conference, the Committee on the Application of Standards adopted conclusions and action-oriented recommendations on 24 cases concerning the application of ratified Conventions. Many of these cases refer to serious concerns in the application of the fundamental Conventions.
In response to several questions by members of the Committee, Ms Curtis explained that the ratification of a Convention is a critical step. It ensures that there is a continuing review of the implementation of that Convention through the ILO’s system of supervision.
She also highlighted the leverage and opportunities that labour provisions in European free-trade agreements have given to ILO concerns and engagements with countries that it might not have had otherwise.
She welcomed the EU-funded technical cooperation projects, which assist ILO Member States to become fully compliant with fundamental labour rights. In recent years, with the support of the EU, the ILO has been able to focus resources for more effective implementation in countries such as Armenia, Bangladesh, Cabo Verde, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. The Trade for Decent Work project carries on this work in mutually identified target countries.
“Our cooperation in recent years with the European Commission has been fundamental to identifying priority countries, where we see the need for action and to be able to sense the openness to improve the situation on the ground,” she concluded. These improvements are facilitated by EU pressure and ILO limelight on key issues.