ILO - 344th session of the ILO Governing Body - EU Statement LILS/3: Third evaluation of the functioning of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group

We thank the Officers of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group for its third evaluation.

The Standards Review Mechanism, being a component of the ILO Standards Initiative, is of crucial importance to maintain and enhance the relevance of international labour standards.

The achievements of the SRM Tripartite Working Group in its first six meetings have had a far-reaching institutional impact.. Its work is based on a three classification system to review standards as either up-to-date; requiring further action to ensure continued and future relevant, up-to-date This forum has offered a structured opportunity for tripartite discussions – based on thorough and shared research on the status and promotion of instruments, which has resulted in consensual recommendations.

It is true that the Working Group didn’t reach consensus on all subjects in its last meeting in September 2021 but let this not deter us from further progress in the future. There is a shared, and strong, sense of responsibility and commitment among the members of the Working Group that aims for consensus.

In the report before us today, an overview of all the points of achievement have been documented. The work carried out by the Working Group is impressive and so is its programme for the coming years. We were further heartened to hear the comments made by all candidates for the post of Director- General, who all stressed the importance of the review work on standards, including the SRM Tripartite Working Group. The role of this Working Group will continue to be key to the work of the ILO in the future.

Notwithstanding the achievements documented, challenges still remain: there are instruments that need to be reviewed. A timely, effective and proactive follow-up has to be given to recommendations of the SRM Tripartite Working Group. We strongly support the adoption and implementation of appropriate measures to ensure follow up to all of the SRM working group’s previous recommendations, including concrete steps undertaken by Member States and social partners in this regard.

Standard setting should be treated as an institutional priority. It should be fully integrated into ILO activities and recommendations.  This process is indispensable in order to enable the standards system to adapt and develop in response to the changing needs and realities in the world of work.

The work of the SRM TWG is complex and challenging, yet, there have always been positive outcomes. Hopefully the meeting in September 2022 will be in person and the limitations of a virtual meeting therewith lifted.

The EU and its Member States fully support and commit to the work of the SRM Tripartite Working Group in order to ensure a clear, robust and up-to-date body of international labour standards ready to face the challenges of the future world of work. 

We thank the SRM Tripartite Working Group for the important work it does under its mandate and encourage the Working Group to continue its efforts.

We look forward to the next evaluation, to take place no later than March 2024.

We agree with the decision point