GB.349/POL/4(Rev.1)/Decision
Decision concerning the enhanced programme of development cooperation for the occupied Arab territories
3 November 2023
While gravely concerned and deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the region, the Governing Body:
(a) acknowledged that the current situation in the occupied Arab territories rendered the continuation of the ILO’s technical assistance in its current form extremely difficult and in some areas impossible, while at the same time provision of relief for and support to affected workers and employers had taken on further urgency;
(b) recalled the Director-General’s Reports to the International Labour Conference, the last of which had been to the 111th Session of the International Labour Conference (2023) on “The situation of workers of the occupied Arab territories”, and requested the Office to take all necessary measures in response to the observations and conclusions therein, and in light of the urgent and increased needs emerging from the crisis situation;
(c) underscored the obligation to respect international humanitarian law;
(d) called on all parties to promptly allow and facilitate, consistent with international humanitarian law, full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access, including by adopting practical steps, such as the establishment of fully secured humanitarian corridors respected by all parties and other initiatives for the sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians throughout Gaza;
(e) expressed deep concern at the humanitarian situation in Gaza and its grave impact on the civilian population, including workers and employers, and especially the disproportionate effect on children and women, while underlining the urgent need for full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and stressing the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence;
(f) welcomed the Director-General's programme for immediate assistance in paragraph 7 of document GB.349/POL/4(Add.1) to respond to immediate needs and calls for urgent assistance from workers and employers in the occupied Arab territories, and called on the Office to prioritize the safeguarding of wages and social benefits to affected workers;
(g) requested the Director-General to submit for the consideration of the 350th Session of the Governing Body (March 2024) a report which should be used as the basis for the development of a more detailed action plan to address the impact of the current crisis situation, and which would contain:
i) the work undertaken by the ILO to support tripartite constituents;
ii) proposals for all additional measures that could be taken by the ILO to promote social justice and strengthen the ILO's mandate in the occupied Arab territories and mitigate the devastating impact of the current situation;
iii) an update on the impact of the current situation on the tripartite constituents, labour market and working conditions, and the ILO’s work, including the implementation of the current Decent Work Programme 2023-2026;
(h) urged Member States to provide financial resources for the ILO programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, providing support to realize decent work within the context of wider United Nations’ efforts for relief and recovery, and to this end work with the donors to articulate the mobilization of dedicated financial resources.
(GB.349/POL/4(Rev.1), paragraph 30, as amended by the Governing Body)
(a) acknowledged that the current situation in the occupied Arab territories rendered the continuation of the ILO’s technical assistance in its current form extremely difficult and in some areas impossible, while at the same time provision of relief for and support to affected workers and employers had taken on further urgency;
(b) recalled the Director-General’s Reports to the International Labour Conference, the last of which had been to the 111th Session of the International Labour Conference (2023) on “The situation of workers of the occupied Arab territories”, and requested the Office to take all necessary measures in response to the observations and conclusions therein, and in light of the urgent and increased needs emerging from the crisis situation;
(c) underscored the obligation to respect international humanitarian law;
(d) called on all parties to promptly allow and facilitate, consistent with international humanitarian law, full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access, including by adopting practical steps, such as the establishment of fully secured humanitarian corridors respected by all parties and other initiatives for the sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians throughout Gaza;
(e) expressed deep concern at the humanitarian situation in Gaza and its grave impact on the civilian population, including workers and employers, and especially the disproportionate effect on children and women, while underlining the urgent need for full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and stressing the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence;
(f) welcomed the Director-General's programme for immediate assistance in paragraph 7 of document GB.349/POL/4(Add.1) to respond to immediate needs and calls for urgent assistance from workers and employers in the occupied Arab territories, and called on the Office to prioritize the safeguarding of wages and social benefits to affected workers;
(g) requested the Director-General to submit for the consideration of the 350th Session of the Governing Body (March 2024) a report which should be used as the basis for the development of a more detailed action plan to address the impact of the current crisis situation, and which would contain:
i) the work undertaken by the ILO to support tripartite constituents;
ii) proposals for all additional measures that could be taken by the ILO to promote social justice and strengthen the ILO's mandate in the occupied Arab territories and mitigate the devastating impact of the current situation;
iii) an update on the impact of the current situation on the tripartite constituents, labour market and working conditions, and the ILO’s work, including the implementation of the current Decent Work Programme 2023-2026;
(h) urged Member States to provide financial resources for the ILO programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, providing support to realize decent work within the context of wider United Nations’ efforts for relief and recovery, and to this end work with the donors to articulate the mobilization of dedicated financial resources.
(GB.349/POL/4(Rev.1), paragraph 30, as amended by the Governing Body)