Momentum from the Centenary celebrations in 2019 (which saw the conclusion of a declaration and a new international convention on violence at work c.f. article No. 11189 and No. 11188) has ultimately proved insufficient. 2020 began with a much-anticipated meeting on decent work in global supply chains, which meant to define how the International Labour Organization should address this 21st century issue. In the face of such a complex topic, which raises among others the debate on the due diligence obligations of multinationals in an environment of mounting regulatory pressures*, the members of the tripartite organization’s technical committee (governments, trade unions and employers) who met in Geneva between 25 and 28 February 2020, were unable to agree on how to follow-up on this issue. The ILO Governing Body will decide during its November 2020 meeting whether or not to take up the matter.
A mandate dating back to 2016. The ILC’s (International Labour Conference)** 105thsession in 2016 struggled to adopt a set of conclusions for decent work in global supply chains (here). While recognizing the contribution supply chains make ‘to economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction and entrepreneurship’ and that they ‘can contribute to a transition from the informal to the formal economy’, as well as ‘be an engine of development by promoting technology transfer,’ the conclusions also underlined certain weaknesses that ‘at all levels within global supply chains have contributed to decent work deficits for working conditions.’
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