The ILO Governing Body concludes its 347th session

GENEVA (ILO News) – The Governing Body of the International Labour Organization (ILO) concluded its 347th session on 23 March with decisions related to the Global Coalition for Social Justice, the platform economy, decent work in supply chains, as well as several country cases.

The Governing Body welcomed Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo’s initiative to forge a Global Coalition for Social Justice, including through the World of Work Summit: Social Justice during the 111th Session of the International Labour Conference, to be held in June 2023.

The executive council of the ILO also welcomed the Director-General's commitment to consider its guidance and his proposal to hold tripartite consultations in preparing a governance structure for the Coalition, including criteria and a procedure for partners’ engagement, and a thematic plan.

Regarding the platform economy and following a discussion on existing gaps in current ILO standards, the Governing Body decided to include on the agenda of the International Labour Conferences in 2025 and 2026 a standard-setting discussion on decent work in the platform economy, which might lead to the first global normative instrument in this area.

As concerns decent work in supply chains, the delegates requested the Office to consider its guidance when implementing a comprehensive ILO strategy on this issue and to submit a report on the implementation to its 353rd Session in March 2025. The strategy is a five-year plan aiming to equip the Organization and tripartite constituents with the tools and guidance to ensure decent work in supply chains. It promotes a smart mix of national and international mandatory and voluntary measures to optimize the impact of the ILO’s work to ensure decent work in supply chains.

The GB took the decision to recommend the Director-General´s proposal for the Programme and Budget 2024-2025 for adoption by the International Labour Conference at its 111th Session in June.

The Governing Body reiterated its most profound concern at the continuing aggression by the Russian Federation, aided by the Belarusian Government, against Ukraine and at the impact this aggression is causing to tripartite constituents – workers, employers, and its democratically elected Government – in Ukraine. It also urged once again the Russian Federation to meet all the obligations following from its ratification of ILO Convention. The Delegates requested the Director-General to continue assisting constituents in Ukraine and to expand the ILO’s resource mobilization efforts to that end.

On Belarus, the Governing Body proposed a draft Resolution for adoption by the June 2023 International Labour Conference that would comprise measures to secure compliance by Belarus with the recommendations of the ILO’s Commission of Inquiry.

Turning to Venezuela, the Governing Body reiterated its call to the Government to accept the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry.

The Governing Body decided to continue monitoring progress made by Bangladesh with the implementation of a roadmap of actions aimed at addressing issues related to freedom of association, collective bargaining, and labour inspection.

Regarding Myanmar, the GB maintained its call for a return to democracy and respect for fundamental rights.

The Governing Body’s 347th session began on 13 March. Its next session will be held on 17 June 2023.