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EU Statement - ILO 355th GB - Developments in the full implementation by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela of the agreed plan of action to give effect to the recommendations of the CoI in respect of Conventions Nos 26, 87 and 144

24.11.2025 Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

ILO Governing Body, 355th session

17 November-27 November 2025

Developments in the full implementation by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela of the agreed plan of action to give effect to the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry in respect of Conventions Nos 26, 87 and 144

GB.355/INS/9

EU Statement

 

Chair,

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

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania1, Ukraine, Georgia, and the EFTA countries Norway and Switzerland align themselves with this statement.

  1. The EU and its Member States are committed to the respect, protection and fulfilment of labour rights. Universal ratification and effective implementation of fundamental ILO Conventions and the ILO’s supervisory mechanism are essential in this endeavour. In this light, we regret the Venezuelan authorities’ continued disagreement with the Governing Body decisions taken in November 2024 and March 2025.
  2. We thank the Director-General for the report on developments regarding the implementation of the action plan addressing the Commission of Inquiry's recommendations on Conventions Nos 26, 87, and 144.
  3. We remain deeply concerned about the dire state of the shrinking civic space and the human and labour rights situation in Venezuela, particularly regarding Freedom of Association and the Right to Organise. We deplore the reported eleven new arbitrary detentions of public sector trade union leaders between January and August 2025. All acts of repression against dissenting voices must stop.
  4. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals arbitrarily detained, including dual and foreign citizens, and the end of enforced disappearances. We condemn the continued threats and violence faced by opposition members, civil society, human rights defenders, labour activists, trade unions and employers’ organizations, lawyers, as well as journalists and media workers and reiterate the need to guarantee their freedom, independence, autonomy, and protection.
  5. The independence of the judiciary is crucial. We call for action on pending allegations of violations of civil liberties and trade union rights, and for ensuring fair trials, reparations, and the reinstatement of those proven innocent.
  6. We welcome the tripartite meetings on minimum wage held in the first quarter of 2025 that produced a report for the authorities based on the agreed method for calculating the minimum wage. Nevertheless, we express concern that no follow up action has been taken by the authorities to fix the minimum wage. We urge the authorities to implement the consultation outcomes without further delay.
  7. Regarding Venezuela authorities’ reference to a national meeting with social partners planned for late 2025, we would appreciate, and we encourage that the ILO Office receives detailed information and an invitation. We underscore that while dialogue initiatives are welcome, they cannot replace the Social Dialogue Forum--the established tripartite mechanism that ensures comprehensive participation and effective implementation of the action plan. We are concerned by a lack of follow-up on the action plan agreed at the Social Dialogue Forum and that the Forum has not been convened since February 2024.
  8. We are concerned about the reported lack of engagement with the ILO by the authorities of Venezuela, noting that the Office has not been invited to any meeting held from March 2025 to date. We regret that the authorities have not facilitated the ILO special adviser’s presence in the country. We urge the authorities to take immediate steps to restore full collaboration with the ILO Office with the involvement of social partners and to organize the fifth Social Dialogue Forum without delay as call for by all social partners.
  9. We call on the Venezuelan authorities to translate their expressions of willingness into tangible action. We strongly urge the authorities to fully accept and implement the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations.
  10. We support the decision point.

Thank you Chair.

 

1North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process