Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries Albania*, Moldova, the Republic of North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Serbia* and Ukraine, and the potential candidate country Georgia, align themselves with this statement.

1. We align ourselves with the IMEC statement.
2. The EU and its Member States continue to strongly support the strategic and coherent approach in setting the Conference agenda. Institutional coherence, adequate time for preparation, balanced with adequate flexibility and full tripartite engagement are key to ensure topical and timely discussions and effective tripartite results, relevant and visible also within the broader multilateral system.
3. When deciding on the agenda, we must take note of the following factors. First, the fast-changing nature of the world of work. Second, the need to ensure social justice supporting the transition from the informal to the formal economy and the role of the ILO in the multilateral system.. Third, the tasks arising from the Standards Review Mechanism. And fourth, the return to in-person ILCs and aiming for smoother and better-quality discussions.
4. We note that the Governing Body can come back to this item and make a final decision in March.
5. As regards point a) of the draft decision point, the standard setting on chemical hazards, we prefer to hold a tripartite technical meeting on the consolidation of instruments in 2024 with a view to submitting a consolidated instrument to the Conference at its 114th Session in 2026 for possible adoption in a single discussion. A tripartite technical meeting is more cost-efficient and flexible. On an exceptional basis, we suggest to allow for a broader participation and a possibility to reflect majority views in the draft instrument sent to the Conference to off-set the disadvantages of this option.
6. We support points b) and c) of the draft decision point, concerning the placing of the listed Conventions and Recommendations for abrogation and withdrawal respectively, at the 118^th and 121^st sessions of the ILC.
7. Regarding point d), taking into account the inclusion of a safe and healthy working environment in the ILO’s framework of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, we suggest to initiate a new cycle of recurrent discussions without prior evaluation and to maintain the sequence of strategic objectives adopted for the present cycle of recurrent discussions, with the aim of conducting an evaluation at the end of that cycle in 2030. We are, however, open to a partial review carried out by the Governing Body.
8. Regarding point e), the EU and its Member States consider that discussions on labour disputes and the protection of workers’ personal data are long overdue and highly relevant in the context of an increasingly digitalised world of work. We therefore support convening meetings of experts on these items at the earliest opportunity and at the latest before the ILC in 2025.
9. The discussions at the meeting of experts on “Decent work in the platform economy” pointed to opportunities for employment creation, but also to critical decent work deficits, including challenges resulting from poor algorithmic management, lack of social security, problems of remuneration, and lack of adequate dispute resolution mechanisms
10. The EU and its Members States believe that these deficits have to be bridged and would therefore support the inclusion of an item on the platform economy on the agenda of the 2025 ILC and beyond as appropriate. We would appreciate in this respect a detailed analysis by March 2023 to allow us to accurately assess what aspects of platform work are already covered by existing standards and where gaps exist. It is also important to consider other preparatory work that may be needed.
11. With the above comments in mind, we can agree to the decision point.

Thank you, Chair.

*Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.