ILO Governing Body, 353rd session 

10 March – 20 March 2025

Progress report on the implementation of the ILO strategy on decent work in supply chains

GB.353/INS/4

EU statement

Chair,

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

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Armenia align themselves with this statement.

1. We thank the ILO for this comprehensive paper which provides us with an overview and allows us to appreciate the work carried out by the Office during these first two years in the framework of this strategy. 

2. We believe it is essential that the ILO, the only tripartite international organization, works actively on this important issue so that the harmonization of social standards within supply chains, in particular global ones, can be achieved equitably at the global level. All businesses need this "level playing field" for healthy and fair competition, and workers in producing countries must be able to benefit from decent work regardless of where the parent company providing their employment is headquartered.

3. Regarding the strategy, we note with satisfaction the significant progress made in promoting the ratification and implementation of international labour conventions, as well as the establishment of national and regional dialogues to address decent work deficits. We welcome the actions taken to promote fundamental principles and rights at work in supply chains including capacity building efforts to tackle child and forced labour.  We also acknowledge the useful development of research and practical tools to measure decent work and share best practices.

4. We welcome the Office's efforts to strengthen cooperation both within its own organization and with other international organizations, thus contributing to increased multilateral coherence between social policies, and trade and investment policies. 

5. Several specific points in the evaluation have also drawn our attention: Regarding outputs 4 and 5, we consider it essential that the paper presents both non-normative and normative options, as a smart mix is indispensable if we wish to achieve tangible and sustainable results. In this regard, corporate due diligence, as defined in the global consensus of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the ILO MNE Declaration is of paramount importance to realizing decent work in supply chains. The ILO should continue to play an important role in offering this smart mix of tools to work on an enabling environment. Regarding the normative aspect, the Office paper should consider the trend towards binding regulations and initiatives and to base itself on the gap analysis carried out in 2022 by the ILO.

6. From our perspective, prevention of labour rights violations in supply chains and access to effective remedies must be at the heart of ILO efforts. The paper should also focus on promoting effective cooperation between governments, businesses, and social partners throughout supply chains, particularly at their lower tiers.

7. For the final evaluation, the Office should include budget and human resources in a more specific and detailed evaluation. Furthermore, we invite the Office to identify the most urgent and/or needed work streams for the updated strategy that is to be presented in 2027. We look forward to the office option paper in November 2025 focusing on all possible initiatives, including standard setting. 

8. The EU agrees with the decision point and will closely follow the next steps of the Strategy. We will fully participate in the upcoming informal consultations meetings to constructively advance the ILO's work on decent work in supply chains and we invite the Office to ensure the inclusive nature of these consultations.

Thank you Chair.

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