ILO publishes the annual report on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations 2014

The Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, whose work constitutes the cornerstone of the ILO's supervisory system on international labour standards, has just published its annual report.

International labour standards, which are made up of Conventions, Protocols to Conventions and Recommendations, are universal instruments adopted by the international community and reflecting common values and principles on work-related issues. While ILO member States can choose whether or not to ratify an ILO Convention, the ILO considers it important to keep track of developments in all countries, whether or not they have ratified them.

Once a country has ratified an ILO convention, it is obliged to report regularly on measures it has taken to implement it. The Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (Committee of Experts) is an independent body composed of legal experts charged with examining the application of ILO Conventions and Recommendations by ILO member States.

When examining the application of international labour standards the Committee of Experts makes two kinds of comments: observations and direct requests. Observations contain comments on fundamental questions raised by the application of a particular Convention by a member State. These observations are published in the Committee's annual report.

The Committee of Experts annual report consists of three parts: a General Report, which includes comments about member States' respect for their constitutional obligations and highlights from the Committee's observations; and a part which contains the observations on the application of international labour standards, as well as a General Survey which is published separately.