2019 UN Forum on Business and Human Rights

Session organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO)

Webcast of the session:
Meeting link
Meeting number: 849 690 119
Password: KnJcBxkx

This session will look at how governments are stepping up efforts on their duty to protect workers from corporate human rights abuses through a smart mix of measures – national and international, mandatory and voluntary, incentives and sanctions – to foster business respect for human rights in the world of work, including their public-private sector collaboration.

The session will feature government representatives highlighting recent developments and initiatives by their governments on international labour standards and their effective application in law and practice. Employers’ and workers’ representatives will give their perspective on the catalyst role of governments in stimulating business respect for human rights in the world of work. ILO will moderate the session.

The session will discuss:

• the role of international labour standards (Conventions and Recommendations)[1], including the new Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190) and Recommendation (No. 206) adopted during the 2019 International Labour Conference;
• the call for governments to ratify international labour standards, particularly the ILO fundamental and governance Conventions and apply these in law and practice through appropriate legislation and effective implementation;
• recent developments in strategic compliance providing the labour inspectorate with a new methodology to achieve compliance outcomes in light of limited resources, mismatched powers and a need to shoulder greater responsibility for promoting compliance in the ever-evolving world of work.
• Governments’ action on enhanced protection of workers and compensation in case of work-related injuries.
• the role of social dialogue engaging government and social partners in enhanced business respect for human rights in the world of work

[1] See ILO NORMLEX The ILO's information system which brings together information on International Labour Standards as well as national labour and social security laws www.ilo.org/normlex