Labour standards
ILO highlights labour standards progress at CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee meeting
Mr. Shingo Miyake, ILO International Labour Standards and Labour Law Specialist presented on the impact of the EPA on the implementation of ILO Fundamental Conventions — also known as core labour standards — in CARIFORUM and EU Member States.
1 April 2025
NASSAU, The Bahamas (ILO News) – The 8th meeting of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Consultative Committee was held on 20 March 2025 in Nassau, The Bahamas. The event brought together key stakeholders to review the progress and challenges of the EPA’s implementation, with discussions focused on strengthening trade and economic ties, enhancing regional cooperation, and addressing critical social and environmental issues.
One of the meeting’s highlights was a presentation by Mr. Shingo Miyake, International Labour Standards and Labour Law Specialist at the ILO Caribbean Office, who addressed the impact of the EPA on the implementation of ILO Fundamental Conventions - also known as core labour standards - in CARIFORUM and EU Member States.
Mr. Miyake highlighted the significant potential for deeper collaboration between the regions to improve the application of the ten Fundamental Conventions. He emphasized the need to update and strengthen national laws, and to introduce practical tools and measures that can drive real change in workplaces. He also underlined that the EPA formally recognizes the ILO as a technical advisor in supporting these efforts, especially through its labour provisions set out in Articles 191 to 196. These provisions reaffirm both parties’ commitment to uphold ILO’s core standards, such as freedom of association, the elimination of forced and child labour, and non-discrimination in employment.
The meeting also included a wide range of sessions exploring critical aspects of EPA implementation. One session focused on improving transparency in trade data collection. Pascal Kerneis of the European Services Forum presented data showing that services now account for 46.8 per cent of total EU-CARIFORUM trade, underscoring their growing role in regional economic integration.
Other sessions addressed key challenges such as mitigating risks linked to EPA implementation, enhancing civil society engagement, and tackling issues like preference erosion in commodity trade, sustainable fisheries, and building capacity to meet international standards. These discussions emphasized the importance of aligning trade policies with social and environmental protections to ensure equitable development across CARIFORUM countries.
The CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee, composed of civil society representatives from both regions, serves as a platform for dialogue on the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of the EPA. The joint statement issued at the meeting reaffirmed the partners’ commitment to sustainable development, inclusive growth, and the integration of labour rights into trade policy.
The key outcome of Mr. Miyake’s session was reflected in the meeting’s joint statement, which read: “The [Consultative Committee] calls on the parties [to the EPA] to increase awareness of the EPA among the labour authorities of their countries, and to take measures to implement the relevant provisions of the EPA through dialogues and practical tools, collaborating with each other and with the ILO.”
The ILO’s active participation in the meeting highlights its ongoing role in ensuring that trade and labour policies translate into real improvements for workers and employers throughout the region.