Statement on behalf of a group of countries

ILO Governing Body, 354^th session 

14 June 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.354/INS/6

________

Geneva, 14 June 2025

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ILO Governing Body, 354^th session

14 June 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.354/INS/6

Statement on behalf of a group of countries

Chair,

I speak on behalf of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, which are also members of the European Union, as well as Albania, Georgia, Iceland, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Switzerland and Ukraine.

1. We thank the Office for the report. It clearly demonstrates that Russia’s brutal, illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues to cause immense human suffering and economic devastation, in particular for workers and employers. It confirms Russia’s persistent and systematic violations of international law, including the UN Charter, and its disregard for ILO values and principles.

2. Regrettably, recent weeks have again shown Russia’s lack of interest in a ceasefire, with repeated large-scale attacks on Ukrainian cities like Kyiv, Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih and Sumy. Russia’s systematic air strikes on Ukraine’s civilian critical infrastructure must stop immediately. 

3. As the report shows, over 12 million Ukrainians still need humanitarian aid, and nearly 5 million face food insecurity. Ukraine faces major labour challenges, including the reintegration of veterans and older workers. Essential workers in healthcare, mining, and energy face constant threat, with hundreds killed or injured as Russia intensifies attacks on critical infrastructure.

4. In temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, Russia has induced an atmosphere of violence and fear, extending to workplaces, where workers face intimidation, hazardous working conditions, mental health strain and coercion to obtain Russian citizenship to access basic services and social benefits. We are deeply concerned about the killings, arrests by the occupying forces and continued disappearances of civilians, including local officials, civil servants and journalists.

5. We are alarmed by the persisting fundamental labour rights violations of the Ukrainian staff of the illegally seized Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, including a rising number of abductions, and growing nuclear safety and security risks. 

6. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises remain hard hit by the war, with nearly 15 billion EUR in direct losses and widespread energy infrastructure damage causing reduced production and suspended operations.

7. We commend the Office for its sustained support to Ukraine’s tripartite constituents, including in aligning national legislation with International Labour Standards, especially on labour law reform and social dialogue. We welcome its focus on women, youth, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, and veterans, reskilling and upskilling for vulnerable groups, and its work on labour inspection, workplace accessibility, and support for ratifying several International Labour Standards. These efforts are vital for Ukraine’s recovery and future EU accession.

8. We welcome the Office’s collaboration with the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in integrating labour standards with human rights and humanitarian law. We commend the ILO Country Office and its staff for active cooperation with UN agencies, despite extremely difficult conditions.

9. 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, diminished occupancy rate in the Office as well as cost cost-saving measures implemented by the Office, we continue to question the appropriateness, suitability and ongoing feasibility of the continued presence of the ILO sub-regional Office in Moscow. We appreciate the current reflection on relocation of Decent Work Technical Support Teams within their respective regions to locations where cost savings and efficiency gains can be achieved. The relocation of the sub-regional Moscow Office merits special attention in this process.

10. We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. We will continue to work with the EU and our international partners to build global support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

11. We support the decision point and reject the amendments of the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Chair.