Ninth meeting of the SRM TWG (2024)

As decided by the Governing Body at its 349th Session in October – November 2023, the ninth meeting of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group took place from 16 to 20 September 2024.

During this meeting, the SRM TWG undertook a review of five instruments concerning fishers, three instruments concerning dock work, one instrument concerning indigenous and tribal peoples and five instruments concerning other categories of workers. It also examined the follow-up to be taken to one instrument concerning fishers, two instruments concerning dock work and one instrument concerning indigenous and tribal peoples, all of which had been previously determined to be outdated.

Preparatory documents

A series of preparatory documents facilitated discussions at this meeting. The first group of documents concern the SRM TWG’s review of instruments on fishers, dock work, indigenous and tribal peoples, and other categories of workers, and the examination of the follow-up to related outdated instruments. The second consists of a note for information on decent work in supply chains. The third consists of documents concerning the SRM TWG’s internal work plan, the implementation of previous SRM TWG recommendations, and arrangements for subsequent meetings.

As requested by the Government group, the two documents on indigenous and tribal peoples were published earlier than the remainder of the documents.

Government information session

On 3 September 2024, the Office held an information session for governments. The purpose of this session was to share information on the SRM TWG’s ninth meeting and in particular to introduce the documents prepared by the Office to facilitate the work of the tripartite working group. Approximately, 55 representatives of governments attended the information session. The Office presentation may be accessed here (please use Chrome).

Other information

• You will find here an introduction to the ninth meeting of the SRM TWG (please use Chrome).
• In its review of the indigenous and tribal peoples instruments, the SRM TWG decided to take into account any relevant written contributions from indigenous peoples that were received before 13 September 2024. The written contribution received from the Sámi Parliament on 12 September 2024 may be accessed here.

Organization and Planning

• Tentative agenda (Rev. 18/09/2024)
• List of participants

Outcome

The SRM TWG reached consensual decisions on the seven topics it was called upon to review at its ninth meeting. However, it was not able to reach consensual decisions on the possible future abrogation or withdrawal of six outdated instruments on the agenda (medical examination (fishers), articles of agreement (fishers), accommodation of crews (fishers), protection against accidents (dock work) and indigenous and tribal peoples). The SRM TWG postponed its decisions on the classification of the instruments concerning certification and vocational training (fishers) and marking of weight (dock work), and on the existence of gaps in coverage in relation to certification and vocational training (fishers), marking of weight (dock work) and older workers, pending research and discussion by later tripartite meetings to be determined by the Governing Body.

The SRM TWG’s recommendations were approved by the Governing Body at its 352nd session:

• Report of the ninth meeting of the SRM TWG (GB.352/LILS/3).
• Governing Body decision concerning the ninth meeting of the SRM TWG (GB.352/LILS/3/Decision).