Decision on the fourth item on the agenda: Strengthening the ILO’s standards system and its impact, including the follow-up to the 2012 ILC Committee on the Application of Standards

The Governing Body took note of the information made available to it on the informal discussions which have taken place between representatives of the Employers’ and Workers’ groups on principles to improve the functioning of the ILO supervisory system through the good offices of the Government of Switzerland (the “Swiss Chalet Process”). It further recalled the informal tripartite consultations that were convened in September 2012 and February 2013 and reported to the Governing Body at its 317th Session in March 2013, and recognized that the Committee on the Application of Standards had been able to complete its work at the 102nd Session (2013) of the International Labour Conference.

Despite the efforts made to date, which have allowed the clarification of a number of issues under consideration, the Governing Body underlined the pressing need for substantive progress to be made on matters which are of fundamental importance to the functioning of the ILO supervisory system in advance of the 103rd Session (2014) of the Conference.

The Governing Body therefore instructed the Director-General to undertake, as a matter of priority, consultations with all groups with a view to the submission to the Governing Body at its 320th Session (March 2014) of concrete proposals that address the main issues which are outstanding in relation to the supervisory system. In so doing, it underlined the importance of full tripartite participation in the process as key to the building of tripartite consensus and to maintaining the strength and authority of the system.