Published on 21st June 2024
Did you know that, in 2022, working in a safe and healthy environment was recognised as a fundamental right thanks to the International Labour Organisation (ILO)? More precisely, it was thanks to the International Labour Conference (ILC), the annual gathering of representatives of governments, employers and workers negotiating new international standards for the world of work.
The 2024 edition of the ILC aimed at revitalising action on those fundamental principles and rights at work – in connection to the ILO’s ongoing mission to foster social justice. Five key principles are at the centre of the debate: freedom of association, reduction of forced labour, ending child labour, combatting discrimination in employment and fostering a safe and healthy work environment. To address the multiple and complex challenges in the world of work, the ILO recommends for more integrated and holistic approaches, the continued emphasis on ratification and implementation of fundamental labour standards, building evidence for informed action, strategic partnerships and alliances and sustainable financing.
Ensuring a Balanced Approach
The private employment services industry, represented in Geneva by a World Employment Confederation (WEC) delegation, advocated for a balanced approach ensuring fundamental principles and rights at work for people in diverse forms of work. The compromise that emerged from the tripartite negations underlined that various emerging forms of work can offer both opportunities and risks. When providing decent work, they can be an avenue for workers and their families to escape poverty and enter the formal economy. When they do not provide decent work, or workers are misclassified, they can be insecure and pose challenges to the realization of fundamental principles and rights at work. Employers focused also on the need to have references to the importance of providing an enabling environment for sustainable enterprises, which are key to providing decent work for workers.
During the negotiations, the workers’ delegation tried to insist on references to collective bargaining as the solution for challenges linked to fundamental principles and rights at work, which risks reducing attention to the other fundamental principles.
The ILC conclusions also mention the importance of Artificial Intelligence and the digital economy. Here, the World Employment Confederation welcomes the fact that the conclusions do not address algorithmic management or the debates on digital labour platforms, which will be at the centre of debate during the 2025 International Labour Conference.
Overall, this year’s ILC debate on fundamental principles and rights at work delivered a balanced and constructive outcome to enable better labour market outcomes for all.
