Tripartite working group on ILO’s governance (2020-2023)
At its 340th Session (November 2020), the Governing Body decided that the TWGD would be mandated to discuss, develop and present proposals to the Governing Body on the full, equal and democratic participation of the ILO’s constituents in the Organization’s tripartite governance by ensuring a fair representation of all regions and establishing the principle of equality among Member States.
The TWGD was composed of 14 Government members from each of the four regions and the Employers’ and Workers’ groups secretariats while all interested governments may attend and participate in the discussions.
The Governing Body will continue to monitor the progress made in the ratification of the 1986 instrument of amendment until its entry into force.
First meeting (11 December 2020)
The TWGD met virtually on 11 December 2020. It first adopted its Terms of reference and appointed the Government members of Nigeria and Switzerland as its Co-Chairpersons. It then reviewed the status of ratification of the 1986 constitutional amendment and related information and held an initial exchange of views on the scope and limits of democratization of ILO governance.Second meeting (21 January and 1 February 2021)
The TWGD met virtually on 21 January and 1 February 2021. As agreed at the first meeting, a questionnaire was prepared and circulated among the members of the TWGD on 16 December 2020. Members were requested to express their views as to the meaning and scope of the notion of ‘democratization’ of the ILO’s tripartite governance and also to communicate concrete proposals on the priorities and possible future plan of work of the TWGD.- Replies to the questionnaire were received by the Workers' and Employers' group secretariats (joint response) and the Governments of the following Member States:
Bulgaria, Croatia, Ecuador, Ethiopia,
France, Germany and the United Kingdom (joint response),
Gabon, Guatemala, India, Indonesia,
Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho,
Lithuania, Mali, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia,
Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Portugal, Saudi Arabia,
Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland,
Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Based on the replies to the questionnaire, it was generally accepted that the TWGD should make proposals to the Governing Body for further promoting the entry into force of the 1986 constitutional amendment and that the democratization of ILO’s tripartite governance called for a targeted approach and should be guided by certain core principles, such as equality, fair representation and transparency.
The TWGD considered also a draft Conference resolution with a view to removing obstacles to ratification of the 1986 constitutional amendment, especially as regards concerns around obsolete terminology used in article 7 of the amendment.
- Draft agenda
- Background note
- Proposed Conference resolution on the principle of equality among ILO Member States and fair representation of all regions in the ILO’s tripartite governance
- Amendments received to the proposed Conference resolution
- Proposed Conference resolution on the principle of equality among ILO Member States and fair representation of all regions in the ILO’s tripartite governance as amended by the working group on 1 February 2021
- List of Member States having not ratified the Instrument of Amendment to the ILO Constitution, 1986 (by region) (as of 1 February 2021)
- Summary record of proceedings
- Report of the TWGD to the Governing Body (GB.341/INS/9)
Third meeting (28 June 2021)
- Draft agenda
- Background note
- Summary record of proceedings
- Terms of reference and working methods (with updated para. 16)
Fourth meeting (8 September 2021)
- Draft agenda
- Background note
- Summary record of proceedings
- Progress report of the TWGD to the Governing Body (GB.343/INS/4)
Fifth meeting (3 and 14 February 2022)
- Draft agenda (revised)
- Summary record of proceedings
- Report of the TWGD to the Governing Body (GB.344/INS/9)
At its 344th Session (March 2022), the Governing Body: (a) took note of the report of the tripartite working group on the full, equal and democratic participation in the ILO’s tripartite governance; (b) decided to extend the duration of the tripartite working group for a period of 12 months, and in this context, invited the Co-Chairpersons to continue to hold consultations, bilateral or otherwise, on the issue of democratization of ILO’s tripartite governance; (c) requested the Director-General to pursue and further intensify the promotional activities in relation to the 1986 constitutional amendment pursuant to the resolution on the principle of equality among ILO Member States and fair representation of all regions in the ILO’s tripartite governance adopted at the June segment of the 109th Session (2021) of the International Labour Conference; and (d) requested the tripartite working group to present a final report for consideration at its 347th Session (March 2023).
Sixth meeting (19 July 2022)
Seventh meeting (15 November 2022)
- Draft agenda
- Summary record of proceedings
- Final Report of the TWGD to the Governing Body (GB.347/INS/6)