ILC114 - EU Statement - Committee on Application of Standards - Liberia C.87
International Labour Conference
114th session
Geneva, 9 June 2026
Committee on Application of Standards
Liberia
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine and Republic of Moldova, the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, as well as the United Kingdom align themselves with this statement.
The EU and its Member States are committed to the respect, protection and fulfilment of human rights, including labour rights. We promote universal ratification and effective implementation of fundamental ILO Conventions and support the ILO supervisory system in its crucial role of promoting and supervising the application of ratified standards.
The EU and its Member States are long-term partners of Liberia. This partnership is further reinforced in the framework of our cooperation with the African Union (AU) and ECOWAS, as well as in including Liberia among beneficiaries of the EU's "Everything but Arms" (EBA) scheme for the least developed countries. The Government of Liberia, in partnership with the EU, hosted the Liberia-EU Business Forum in Brussels this year.
We note with concern that the case of Liberia’s failure to comply with Convention No. 87 is being discussed for the third time in the last five years, previously in 2022 and 2023.
We note with deep concern that according to the African Regional Organization of the International Trade Union Confederation’s (ITUC – Africa) most recent observations, the Government refused to register the National Health Workers' Union of Liberia (NAHWUL), disregarding the art. 2 of Convention No. 87 which grants workers the right to form organizations without prior authorization. We are also concerned by the new reports of anti-union practices and Government’s interference in a trade union election process. The Committee of Experts observed that despite repeated concerns raised by ITUC-Africa and submissions to the ILO supervisory bodies, the Government has neither addressed NAHWUL’s registration nor sanctioned anti-union practices.
We note the observation of the Committee of Experts that civil servants in Liberia are represented by the Civil Service Association which does not have the rights enjoyed by trade unions in the private sector. We urge the Government, in line with the Committee of Experts’ request and recommendation of direct contacts mission to ensure that all workers, including those in the public sector, are able to exercise their labour rights under Convention No. 87.
We appreciate that the Liberian Government received an ILO direct contacts mission in July 2024 followed by a technical mission in 2025. We also welcome the fact that the Government has expressed its commitment to resolving all outstanding issues relating to the application of Convention No. 87 including by development of a road map and comprehensive review of legislation. We call on the Government to carry out without further delay the holistic review of the law, including the Decent Work Act and the standing Orders of the Civil Service in consultation with representative workers’ and employers’ organizations, with the view to recognizing trade union rights for civil servants as requested by the Committee of Experts. We also call on the Government to implement the recommendations of the direct contacts mission.
While recognizing the Government’s commitment and steps undertaken, including establishing a committee composing of Tripartite Council members and other stakeholders to review the legislation, we call on the Government to ensure full legal recognition of the National Health Workers' Union of Liberia (NAHWUL) promptly through the harmonization of the Decent Work Act and Civil Servant Standing orders. We welcome the indication that the labour law harmonization process will include the granting of trade union rights to maritime workers and foreign workers. Since the harmonization process may take time, we echo the Committee of Experts invitation to consider establishing a temporary arrangement for public service workers’ associations and unions. We also ask the Government to present additional information on the issue of determination of essential services, including presidential prerogatives and practice in this regard.
We recall that the government has the responsibility to ensure the full application of Convention No. 87, which it has voluntarily ratified. We therefore call on the government to investigate allegations of trade unions rights’ violations and to provide a full reply to the Committee of Experts comments on all issues related to freedom of association and the right to organize.
The EU and its Member States will continue to monitor and analyse the situation and remain committed to our close cooperation and partnership with Liberia.
Thank you Chair.
- ^ North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.