The International Labour Organisation has adopted its first international labour standards specifically designed to protect workers from biological hazards in the workplace.
The workers’ union, in a note documented by The PUNCH on Tuesday, described it as a major step towards ensuring safer and healthier conditions across all sectors.
This development follows the 113th session of the International Labour Conference, which concluded on June 13 in Geneva, where industry captains converged to discuss the future of labour.
The ILO said the newly adopted convention, along with an accompanying recommendation, establishes a legal and practical framework to prevent and control exposure to biological hazards such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi in occupational environments.
The convention obliges member states to adopt national policies and enforce preventive measures to minimise biological risks at work.
It also mandates employers to carry out risk assessments, implement appropriate safeguards, and ensure that workers are adequately informed and trained.
The recommendation provides technical guidance on risk assessments, early warning systems, emergency response procedures and training, including details on routes of exposure such as airborne transmission, physical contact and vector-borne infections.
“This is a landmark achievement in advancing global occupational safety,” said Director-General of the ILO, Gilbert Houngbo, at the closing of the conference. “With this convention, we are better prepared to protect workers against future pandemics and everyday biological threats alike.”
The conference also held its first standard-setting discussion on decent work in the platform economy. As part of the deliberations, delegates agreed on a draft framework for a future convention and recommendation, scheduled for adoption in 2026.
The proposed standards will cover key areas including fair pay, social protection, occupational safety, data privacy and mechanisms for resolving disputes affecting gig and digital platform workers.
In a separate development, the ILC adopted a resolution aimed at reducing the scale of informal employment worldwide.
The resolution calls for urgent reforms to improve job quality, broaden social protection coverage and support vulnerable populations in transitioning to formal employment.
The ILO has been tasked with developing a global roadmap to support countries in implementing national strategies.
The conference also approved seven amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, reinforcing protections against violence and harassment at sea, safeguarding seafarers’ rights to shore leave and repatriation, enhancing access to healthcare, and ensuring fair treatment in cases of detention or maritime incidents.
With 18 new ratifications of international instruments recorded from eight member countries, this year’s conference signalled a renewed global commitment to decent work, social justice and inclusive labour standards in a rapidly changing world.
