ILO Governing Body, 353rd session

10 – 20 March 2025

Developments in the application of the resolution concerning the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine from the perspective of the mandate of the International Labour Organization 

GB.353/INS/13

Statement of a group of countries

Chair,
I speak on behalf of the following 34 European countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and my own country, Poland.

1. We thank the Office for the latest report.
2. We reiterate our resolute condemnation of Russia's brutal, illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified full scale invasion of Ukraine, now entering its fourth year. It constitutes a gross violation of international law, notably the UN Charter, and fundamentally contradicts the values and principles of the ILO. We deplore the devastating impact of Russia’s war of aggression on human lives, employment, livelihoods, and businesses.
3. We strongly condemn Russia’s targeted attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and attacks on healthcare workers, which disrupt businesses and jobs, and lead to injuries and deaths. We are deeply concerned about reports of fundamental labour rights violations and the increasing risks to nuclear safety and security at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), currently illegally seized by Russia, as well as the intimidation of the Ukrainian staff at the ZNPP and the enforced disappearance of at least ten workers there. We expect that the strengthened cooperation between ILO and the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission will shed more light on labour rights violations in territories temporarily controlled by Russia.
4. Despite these challenges, Ukraine’s people and economy have demonstrated remarkable resilience. Ukraine urgently needs help. We commend the initiatives under the ILO Transitional Cooperation Strategy for Ukraine 2024–2025, including labour market reintegration of displaced persons, returnees, women, and persons with disabilities. We thank the ILO, especially the staff in Kyiv, for their dedication under challenging conditions, despite increased aerial attacks and frequent electricity outages. We remain committed to continue collaborating with ILO, including by supporting Ukraine to continue aligning its labour reforms with international labour standards and the EU acquis and thus advancing Ukraine’s EU accession process. We support other international efforts to help Ukraine’s economy and society recover from the effects of Russia’s war of aggression. The Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome will be an important step in this direction. We also commend the resolve and active engagement of social partners in addressing challenges caused by Russia’s aggression.
5. Regarding the Moscow Office, we closely monitor its ability to provide technical cooperation and assistance to all countries in the sub-region. Given Russia’s ongoing violation of the ILO Constitution and its commitments as a member of the ILO, we continue to question the appropriateness, suitability and ongoing feasibility of maintaining the ILO sub-regional Office in Moscow. The vast majority of its international staff have chosen to work from outside Russia. The locally engaged staff service projects exclusively outside Russia. We believe that, to better serve its constituents, relocation of the sub-regional office outside Russia would be beneficial. It would allow the ILO to enhance its technical assistance by aligning cooperation more closely with the needs of constituents in the region. Additionally, given diminished occupancy rate in the Moscow Office, current budgetary constraints and the drive for cost-saving measures, such relocation could contribute to cost-saving efforts.
6. We stand united in our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, as well as its inherent right to self-defence against Russia’s war of aggression. We will continue to support Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed. Russia must not prevail.
7. With this, we support the original decision point. We reject the amendments of the Russian Federation.