French launch review of labour law

On the 16th of February 2017, Myriam El Khomri, the French Minister of Labour, chaired the Advisory Committee on the International Labour Organization (or “Commission 144”).

 

During this meeting, the responsibility for the French contribution on the future of labour was handed to Guy Ryder, Director-General of the ILO (International Labor Organization).

 

Guy Ryder had announced a major review on the future of labour law at the International Labor Conference (ILC) in June 2015 to prepare the ILO’s centennial in 2019.

 

In order to best contribute to this high-quality study on the future of labour law, France decided to turn to Commission 144, a commission composed of numerous academics, politicians, experts and social partners who testified and contributed many elements to this reflection.

 

When all the opinions of ILO members have been collated, the ILO (International Labor Office) will be responsible for producing a report synthesizing the reflections and opinions of its members. The ILO is also charged with organizing public meetings to discuss the issues and will present its final report at the centenary celebrations of the ILO in 2019.

 

France has set out three major proposals:

 

• Carrying out an overview of the major changes in the world of work
• Strengthening the ILO’s mandate to better respond to future challenges (eg legitimacy of social issues)
• Implementing the institutional and policy adjustments to deliver this enhanced mandate

 

One of the key points of the proposals is the addition of a protocol to the 1944 Philadelphia Declaration, taking into account considerations such as gender equality and sustainable development.

 

These proposals were approved by the members of the Commission 144 at their meeting on the 17th of February 2017.

 

Guy Ryder was officially given the responsibility of organising the French  commission on the 20th of March 2017 by Elisabeth Laurin, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations Office at Geneva and international organizations in Switzerland.

 

It should be noted that the study on the future of labour law will continue throughout the year with a symposium at the ILO headquarters on 6 and 7 April 2017 set to launch the review.