#EESC welcomes decision of Centenary International Labour Conference to adopt two new instruments to combat violence and harassment in workplace

EESC President Luca Jahier, along with the vice-presidents Isabel Cano and Milena Angelova, underline the importance of this decision and note that the European Economic and Social Committee has already adopted new Rules of Procedure and a new Code of Conduct for members at the Committee's plenary session on 20 February 2019.

The adoption by the EESC of an instrument that addresses the issue of a safe working environment and provides tools to combat harassment in the workplace is evidence of the EESC’s commitment to respecting human rights.

Jahier, Cano and Angelova point out that, by affirming the principle of respect for dignity in the workplace, as with the ILO Convention, the EESC, as the representative of civil society, has put in place fundamental and effective instruments to ensure strict adherence to standards with regard to ethics, non-discrimination, equal opportunities and respect for dignity in the workplace, particularly in relation to preventing and combatting all forms of harassment. An advisory committee will be set up to monitor compliance with the principles laid down in the Code of Conduct.

The Violence and Harassment Convention and the Violence and Harassment Recommendation were adopted by delegates on the last day of the Centenary International Labour Conference in Geneva on 21 June 2019. The Convention was adopted by 439 votes to 7, with 30 abstentions. The Recommendation was adopted by 397 votes to 12, with 44 abstentions.

In 2019 the International Labour Organisation, the United Nations agency that deals with issues relating to the world of work, is celebrating 100 years since its foundation. During its 109th session in Geneva on 21 June 2019, the International Labour Conference adopted these two new instruments (a convention and a recommendation) aimed at combatting violence in the workplace.

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