The delegates at the International Labour Conference (ILC) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) have adopted a new apprenticeship standard to ensure their rights and protection from their employers.

The delegates reached a resolution at the end of the 111th session of the ILC on Friday in Geneva, Switzerland.

The conference, held from June 5 to 16, 2023, was attended by at least 5,000 delegates representing governments, workers and employers from the ILO’s 187 member states.

The delegates said the new labour standard would support “opportunities for people of all ages to skill, reskill and upskill continuously” in rapidly changing labour markets.

“It provides a clear definition of apprenticeships, specifies aspirational standards for quality apprenticeships, including rights and protection for apprentices,’’ they said.

The delegates also passed resolutions on a Just Transition, saying it was imperative to advance a just transition to achieve social justice, eradicate poverty and support decent work.

They endorsed the ILO guidelines for a Just Transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies as a basis for action and the central reference for policy-making.

The delegate further adopted the conclusions of the Recurrent Discussion Committee on Labour Protection.

According to the delegates, the adopted resolution charts a way forward toward more inclusive, adequate and effective labour protection for all workers and creates a basis for developing a plan of action.

Also, the plenary sitting approved the report of the Committee of the Application of Standards (CAS), which is a core supervisory body of the ILO’s standards system.

It said the CAS examined 24 individual country cases related to the observance of ILO conventions.

It also considered the Committee of Experts’ General Survey on Achieving gender equality at work.

The tripartite committee members also resolved that there was an urgent need to eliminate discrimination in employment and occupation and guarantee full and effective maternity protection.

“Also to ensure the right of workers with family responsibilities to engage in employment,’’ it said.

It said that during the conference, 13 ratifications of International Labour Conventions were registered.

“This is mainly in respect of the recently adopted convention against violence and harassment in the world of work (C190) and conventions concerning occupational and safety and health,’’ it said.

It stated that the conference adopted the ILO Programme and Budget for the 2024/2025 session.

The delegates also resolved and reaffirmed the commitment expressed by all the ILO’s tripartite constituents to “combat all forms of discrimination and exclusion on any ground for the benefit of all” while recognizing the “different positions expressed on some issues”. 

(NAN)