European Union 

Statement 

International Labour Conference
113^th session

 (2^nd June – 13^th June 2025) 

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EU Statement

Standard-Setting Committee: Biological Hazards

Opening Statement

Geneva, 2 June 2025

Chair,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.

   The candidate countries Türkiye, North Macedonia, Albania, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova* and Georgia, the EFTA country Norway member of the European Economic Area, as well as Armenia align themselves with this statement.

2. Let me first start by welcoming you, Chair and the Vice-Chairs to these important discussions on biological hazards in the working environment. We look forward to working with all of you over the coming days.

3. We welcome the outcome of last year’s discussion with a view to the adoption of the final instruments this year. The Committee has agreed on the main elements of the Convention, including the definitions, the main elements of the national policy, the principles of preventive and protective measures, employers’ duties and responsibilities, the rights and duties of workers and their representatives, as well as provisions on reporting and data collection. 

4. We appreciate the great work of the ILO Office put into the four comprehensive reports and for the draft of the proposed Convention supplemented by a Recommendation, which we believe will provide a holistic and forward-looking framework for respecting, promoting and realising the right to a safe and healthy working environment with respect to biological hazards. 

5. The importance of these discussions cannot be understated. We should do our outmost to protect workers from risks and harm that could have been prevented. Exposure to biological hazards at work can lead to a substantial number of fatalities, diseases and injuries; poor prevention increases the economic costs, disrupts businesses, and challenges governments, ultimately impacting the global economy significantly. Governments, in collaboration with social partners, can play a crucial role in mitigating these effects. A new international labour standard would provide governments the necessary guidance to protect workers, support businesses, and strengthen their economies. It would also close the regulatory gap in the ILO’s body of standards identified by the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group.

6. The protection, promotion and fulfilment of fundamental principles and rights at work is essential for ensuring that decent work can be a reality. Occupational safety and health are no exception to this, as workers still face significant health risks due to exposure to biological hazards. Therefore, it is crucial that adequate preventive and protective measures are implemented to create a safe and healthy working environment. This can lead to a healthier workforce, and can result in economic benefits. 

    

7. With these considerations in mind, we aim for consensus on the instruments to be adopted by the Conference and call on all constituents to facilitate the discussions, keeping in mind the limited time we have for the work ahead of us. The EU and its Member States remain fully committed to contributing constructively to this process and to improving the protection of workers against biological hazards worldwide.

8. Lastly, we thank the Office for its guidance given through its four reports and the proposed instruments. We believe that the text we have in front of us is a good basis for the upcoming discussions, and we are looking forward to continuing this important work in close collaboration with all constituents.

Thank you, Chair.

*North Macedonia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.