ILC114 - EU Statement - Committee on Application of Standards - Russian Federation C.87

International Labour Conference

114th Session

Geneva, 9 June 2026

Committee on the Application of Standards

Russia

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 

1948 (No. 87)

Thank you, 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 countries Iceland and Norway, members 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.

We recall that the Russian Federation has ratified the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (No. 87). We express our serious concern with the latest observation of the Committee of Experts concerning the application of this fundamental Convention.

We note with deep concern the Committee’s observation that several international trade union organisations, including the International Transport Workers’ Federation and IndustriALL Global Union, have been declared “undesirable” by the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, allegedly resulting in serious restrictions on the activities of their affiliates in the country. We call on the Government to provide comments on the allegations concerning the effective prohibition of ITF activities and restrictions on its affiliates in Russia.

We recall the Committee’s observation that international trade union solidarity constitutes one of the fundamental objectives of any trade union movement. We further recall that Article 5 of Convention No. 87 guarantees the right of workers’ and employers’ organisations to affiliate with international organisations of their own choosing, which also implies the right to maintain contact with them, to participate in their activities and to benefit from their services, including through legitimate financial assistance.

We express deep concern at the impact of legislation and regulation on foreign agents and undesirable organisations on freedom of association rights, which also affects trade unions and social partners. We urge Russia to abolish its repressive legislation and comply with international human rights law.

We deeply regret the absence of steps taken to ensure that trade unions may express their opinions freely, including views criticizing the Government’s economic and social policies, without facing dissolution or other forms of interference. We also regret the lack of progress in ensuring the full recognition, in law and in practice, of the right of trade unions to hold public meetings and demonstrations, which is an essential aspect of freedom of association.

We also express deep concern regarding the April 9 searches of offices and seizures of equipment and documents used by a number of Russian trade unions, among others the Confederation of Labour of Russia, which had provided observations to the Committee, and note it as a further example of violations of freedom of association rights by the Government of Russia.

We note with concern the Committee’s observation that persons deprived of liberty who work under employment contracts in penal institutions appear to be prevented from establishing and joining workers’ organisations of their own choosing. We ask the Government to review the Law on Public Associations to ensure that all workers, without distinction whatsoever, may exercise the rights protected by Article 2 of the Convention.

We regret that no progress has been made in guaranteeing the right to strike of state and municipal civil servants who do not exercise authority in the name of the State, and we call on the Government to review the relevant restrictions. We further deeply regret the continued restrictions on the right to strike of railway workers. We recall the Committee’s view that railway transport does not constitute an essential service in the strict sense, where strikes may be prohibited, and call on the Government to amend section 26(2) of the Law on Railway Transport to ensure railway workers’ right to strike, with a negotiated minimum service where necessary.

We urge the Government of the Russian Federation to take concrete and immediate measures to bring law and practice into full conformity with Convention No. 87, in genuine consultation with the social partners. We call on the Government to cooperate fully with the ILO supervisory bodies, and to provide detailed information on all measures taken.

The EU and its Member States will continue to follow the situation closely and remain committed to supporting the effective application of fundamental labour standards.

Thank you, Chair.

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