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EU Statement - ILO 355th GB - Follow-up to the resolution concerning the general discussion on addressing informality and promoting the transition to formality for decent work

19.11.2025
Geneva
Press and information team of the Delegation to the UN in Geneva

ILO Governing Body, 355th session 

17 November – 27 November 2025

Follow-up to the resolution concerning the general discussion on addressing informality and promoting the transition to formality for decent work

GB.355/INS/3/1

EU statement

Chair,

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

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania[1], Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, as well as the EFTA country Norway align themselves with this statement.

  1. We thank the Office for the comprehensive paper, which provides an overview of the follow-up to the resolution concerning the general discussion on addressing informality and promoting the transition to formality for decent work, adopted by the ILC at its 113th Session. 

  2. Informality is a structural barrier that we need to overcome to advance decent work, social justice and sustainable development. It hinders progress in reducing poverty and inequality and presents significant challenges for the realization of workers’ rights, effective labour protection, and universal access to sustainable and adequate social protection. For most people, informality is not a choice but a result of limited opportunities in the formal economy, low incomes, and the absence of alternative livelihoods.

  3. We welcome the proposed plan of action for 2026-2031, focused on three mutually supportive objectives and an integrated approach. The plan reflects the complexity and diversity of informality. To help countries address informality, the Office has to improve coordination between headquarters and regional and country offices. 

  4. We reaffirm our commitment to improving the implementation of Recommendation No. 204 worldwide and we remain engaged in tackling informality and addressing its root causes, in line with the SDGs, especially Goal 8.3, and the ILO’s fundamental principles and rights at work. We support the Office in this endeavour.

  5. Considering the transformations in the world of work, we appreciate that the plan prioritises leaving no one behind and paying attention to women and groups and persons in vulnerable or marginalised situations such as youth, low-skilled workers, persons with disabilities, older workers, migrants and ethnic minorities who are often at higher risk of informality and face specific barriers to formalization. 

  6. We highlight the relevance of coordinated strategies based on inclusive social dialogue, improved collective bargaining and coherence among macroeconomic, employment, and social protection policies and skills and training systems, to advance the transition into formality, and expand decent job creation.

  7. We stress the role of accessible and well-resourced public institutions working in a coordinated manner to deliver integrated measures supporting pathways to formalization. 

  8. We call to focus on legal frameworks and supervisory mechanisms, including labour inspection systems, and the ILO’s technical assistance to develop national and sectoral formalization strategies and support robust and up-to-date international labour standards application. 

  9. We welcome ILO’s leadership in supporting efforts for decent work and formalization in supply chains.

  10. We underline the ILO’s role in fostering collaboration, coherence and dialogue within the United Nations and the multilateral system, to advance joint action towards formalization. 

  11. We welcome that extensive consultations with constituents will be organised to inform the development of the global and time-bound roadmap to be presented to the GB at its 358th Session. 

  12. We support the decision point.

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