Dimitrina Dimitrova, Deputy-Director of the ILO’s Meetings Department

This year’s International Labour Conference (ILC) – an annual event often called the world parliament of labour – will take place at the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva from 28 May to 8 June, 2018.

More than 5,700 government, employer and worker delegates from the ILO’s 187 member States will discuss some of the most pressing issues facing the world of work. Here’s a look at some of the main items on the agenda of the 107^th session of the ILC.

Why is the world of work unfair to women?

Women continue to be paid approximately 20 per cent less than men per month across the world, even when they do the same work, or work of equal value. This year’s annual Director-General’s report addresses the obstacles to gender equality at work and in society. It also suggests how these challenges can be tackled and how to sustain progress when achieved in a new push for equality.

How to fight violence and harassment at work

How is violence and harassment at work affecting the health, security and wellbeing of working women and men? The issue of violence and harassment in the world of work will be in the spotlight as the ILO and its constituents discuss moving towards the adoption of a new international instrument – a Convention or a Recommendation – on this critical issue. Once there is consensus, the instrument will be adopted at a later ILC.

Marcel Crozet/@ilo

Social dialogue and tripartism

Sound industrial relations and effective social dialogue are a means to promote better wages and working conditions, as well as social justice and peace. Discussions on this topic will be guided by a report on social dialogue and tripartism, which reviews global trends, both progress and challenges ahead stemming from inequality, changes in technology and demographic shifts.

Shaping development cooperation in support of the SDGs

The ILO and its constituents will look at the way forward for ILO development cooperation, and how its unique normative agenda, tripartite structure and commitment to social dialogue can best support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in respect of decent work.

Ensuring decent working time for the future

Working time probably comes a close second to wages as the working condition that has the most direct impact on the day-to-day lives of workers. The Committee on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations will look at standards related to working time in light of transformations taking place in the world of work. The committee is also expected to adopt conclusions on 24 individual cases related to issues arising from the implementation of labour rights.

Jobs for peace and resilience

A World of Work Summit will take place on June 7 to look at how employment and decent work can promote peace and resilience. The Presidents of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, and the Central African Republic, Faustin Archange Touadera, will also address the ILC on that day.

And a lot more…

These are just some of the issues on what will be a packed Conference agenda. As the ILC gets under way, we will be providing regular updates on our webpage and on social media, under the hashtags #ILC2018 for English, #CITravail for French and #CITrabajo for Spanish. Also look out for daily Facebook live interviews with ILO experts and special guests.