ILO Upgrades Palestine To Non-Member Observer State Status

NEW YORK, Nov 5 (Bernama-WAFA) -- The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has voted to formally upgrade Palestine’s status from "a liberation movement" to "a non-member observer state," according to Palestine news agency WAFA.

This decision was reached during the General Conference of the ILO Board of Directors, attended by Shaher Saad, Secretary-General of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), along with representatives from affiliated Arab and international unions.

The conference’s final resolution, Resolution 352, confirms Palestine’s acceptance by the ILO Board of Directors.

Saad noted that the decision will be formally ratified at the International Labour Conference in June 2025, a move that will grant Palestine full participation across all ILO structures and pave the way towards participatory membership.

The decision received broad support within the conference, with opposition voiced solely by Israel, the occupying state.

For the first time, Palestine will join the ILO’s 2025 conference with an official tripartite delegation representing government, workers, and employers, signalling its complete engagement with the organisation.

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) welcomed the ILO Board’s decision, with ITUC General Secretary Luca Visentini describing the recognition as a "sign of hope and solidarity" with the Palestinian people, who face significant challenges regarding their human and labour rights.

Visentini added that recognising the state of Palestine is vital for achieving sustainable peace.

-- BERNAMA-WAFA