Decision on the 13th item on the agenda: Report of the Working Party on the Functioning of the Governing Body and the International Labour Conference

Record of decisions | 01 April 2014

Decision on the 13th item on the agenda: Report of the Working Party on the Functioning of the Governing Body and the International Labour Conference

Proposed arrangements for the 103rd Session
of the International Labour Conference

A possible two-week scenario for the
International Labour Conference

The Governing Body decided to:

(a) recommend to the Conference that it implement, on a trial basis, the proposed arrangements for the 103rd Session of the International Labour Conference as presented in document GB.320/WP/GBC/1;

(b) request the Office to prepare for its 322nd Session (November 2014);

(i) an analysis of the arrangements trialled at the 103rd Session of the Conference;

(ii) a detailed programme and tentative plan of work for the two-week session of the Conference that will be trialled in 2015;

(iii) a consolidated summary of all proposals on which a tripartite agreement has been reached and of issues that require further consultations and discussion.

(Document GB.320/INS/13, paragraph 12.)

Review of the implementation of
the Governing Body reform

The Governing Body noted that relevant follow-up action should be taken by the Officers, the Tripartite Screening Group and the Office, as appropriate, with regards to the following issues identified in document GB.320/WP/GBC/2:

(a) follow-up action to be taken by the Officers with regards to:

(i) the process for consideration of the deferral of agenda items where the Governing Body has previously determined that an item be considered at its next session;

(ii) enhancing the role of the Officers and ensuring early communication of information submitted to the Officers’ meetings;

(iii) ensuring greater fluidity of the Governing Body by adopting time-management procedures, strict observance of starting time of the sittings and the role of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons and Government representatives in chairing parts of the meetings;

(iv) reviewing the mandate of the High-Level Section and making better use of both of the Strategic Policy Segment and of the more flexible setting of the Working Party;

(v) retaining the option of starting the Governing Body autumn sessions during the last week of October (as in 2014);

(b) follow-up action to be taken by the Tripartite Screening Group with regards to:

(i) the composition and timing of the Screening Group;

(ii) ensuring that the Governing Body agenda is a manageable size, that there are no duplications, that is, topics being debated in several sections and segments;

(iii) ensuring an appropriate balance between the number of items allocated to the various sections and segments;

(iv) structuring the agenda thematically;

(v) ensuring a governance-oriented approach and effective use of the respective mandates through appropriate planning and distribution between the sections/segments;

(vi) putting more emphasis in the Social Dialogue Segment on labour administration and labour law issues, and in the Technical Cooperation Segment on strategic policy issues; strengthening the agendas of the Employment and Social Protection Segment and Multinational Enterprises Segment to include more substantial items; convening the High-Level Section only when required and ensuring that its agenda makes more efficient use of the Strategic Policy Segment and of the more flexible setting of the Working Party on the Social Dimension of Globalization;

(vii) providing for sufficient time for group meetings;

(c) follow-up action to be taken by the Office with regards to:

(i) providing the Screening Group with an annotated list of agenda proposals for the following Governing Body, indicating clearly the rationale for each proposed item, any previous decisions to which they refer and the estimated time needed for the discussion of each item;

(ii) ensuring the same degree of involvement between the three groups, by communicating concurrently any change in the proposed list of items to all members of the Screening Group;

(iii) maintaining the institutional memory to ensure appropriate follow-up of previous Governing Body and International Labour Conference discussions;

(iv) providing advice to the Screening Group on the appropriate scheduling of Governing Body agenda items;

(v) communicating to the three groups, at an early stage, a tentative order of business for the entire Governing Body as well as a consolidated programme, including an assessment of the time required for the discussion of each item, to enable delegates to plan their attendance, and consulting with the three groups promptly when changes to the programme or the order of business are anticipated;

(vi) improving the process for submitting amendments to draft decision points, as well as the presentation of the proposed amendments;

(vii) ensuring the same degree of involvement for the three groups in preparatory discussions for Governing Body debates;

(viii) enhancing the consultation process through the Geneva-based Tripartite Consultative Group;

(ix) pursuing such initiatives as the organization of a one-day orientation seminar in Geneva for diplomats newly arrived in Geneva;

(x) ensuring that Governing Body papers are reader friendly and decision oriented;

(xi) continuing efforts to move toward a paperless policy;

(xii) giving consideration to extending the deadline for web posting the draft minutes due to the heavy workload of some sections.

(Document GB.320/INS/13, paragraph 20.)