Decision concerning the enhanced programme of development cooperation for the occupied Arab territories

Guided by the principles enshrined in the Constitution of the International Labour Organization, the Governing Body:

(a) reaffirmed the need to fully respect the ILO's fundamental principles and rights at work, and that universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice;

(b) took note of all relevant resolutions on the Middle East and recalled Security Council resolutions 2720 (22 December 2023), 2712 (15 November 2023) and 2735 (10 June 2024), and the decision it had adopted at its 349th Session (October–November 2023) concerning document GB.349/POL/4(Rev.1), which included a call for all parties to facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip;

(c) recalled the decision adopted at its 350th Session (March 2024) on the report on crisis-related ILO work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory;

(d) took note of the information provided in document GB.352/POL/3, including the severe and lasting repercussions of the ongoing crisis on the Palestinian labour market, Palestinian tripartite constituents, and their families;

(e) stressed the urgent need to take all necessary measures to promote social justice, advance decent work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and respect relevant international labour standards;

(f) expressed again its most profound concern at the increasingly dire and further deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, including the mass displacement of workers and employers, and recognized the severe impact it is having on the physical and mental health of workers, employers and the civilian population, particularly women, children and others in vulnerable situations, due to the ongoing crisis;

(g) expressed as well its strong concern regarding the destruction of workplaces as a result of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, as well as the dismissals and non-payment and late payment of wages of the Palestinian workers and the restrictions they face in the West Bank;

(h) reaffirmed the call to remove restrictions on the access and movements of the ILO staff in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as well as ensuring their safety and security;

(i) welcomed the outcome of the fund-raising meeting of 10 June 2024, which was held on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference, and acknowledged the financial support already provided to the ILO programme by several Member States, and commended the work undertaken so far by the Office in this respect;

(j) called upon other Member States to contribute towards the full implementation of the emergency response plan recovery programme, in close coordination with the ILO constituents, to promote decent work and social justice for all Palestinians;

(k) requested the Director-General to continue offering his good offices to support Palestinian workers' access to their wages and workplaces in conditions of occupational safety and health as well as to continue to address long-term priorities as highlighted in several Director-General's annual reports to the International Labour Conference, such as the issue of social security funds and permit system reform;

(l) requested the Office to update the Governing Body at its 353rd Session (March 2025) on the following:

(i) impact of the current crisis on the world of work and the tripartite constituents in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and the implementation of the ILO's emergency response plan;

(ii) dismissals and non-payment of wages of the Palestinian workers due to the current crisis, and the efforts exerted by the Office to address this matter, in addition to the current restrictions on their access to existing and new jobs in the labour market;

(iii) recommendations to follow up on the special sitting discussion that took place during the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference (2024).

(GB.352/POL/3, paragraph 40, as amended by the Governing Body)