A tripartite delegation from Grenada is currently attending the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland, from 2–13 June 2025 at the Palais des Nations (United Nations) and the ILO Headquarters.
The delegation is headed by Senator the Honourable Claudette Joseph, Minister for Labour, and includes Sparkle Grenade Courtney, Labour Commissioner; Senator Andre Lewis, Grenada Trades Union Council representative; and Abena Peters, Grenada Employers’ Federation representative.
The International Labour Conference is the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) highest decision-making body which annually, bringing together the tripartite delegations from the organisation’s 187 Member States and several observers from other international actors to consider important topics related to the world of work, placed on its agenda by the organisation’s governing body.
This year’s ILC agenda includes items of particular importance, such as a standard-setting discussion on decent work in the platform economy (online workers), a standard-setting discussion on protection against biological hazards, and a general discussion on innovative approaches to tackling informality and promoting transitions towards formality to achieve decent work.
During the opening session of the Standard-Setting Committee on Decent Work in the Platform Economy, Minister Joseph addressed the conference on behalf of Caricom acknowledging that digital labour platforms have fundamentally transformed the world of work by creating new employment opportunities, while at the same time raising complex questions about the nature of these employment relationships and suitable labour protections. She emphasised that small island developing states face challenges in regulating digital labour platforms, many of which operate transnationally. This makes it essential that international labour standards provide a robust and coherent framework — one that ensures that our citizens are protected from exploitation, misclassification, and the erosion of basic labour rights.
Grenada’s attendance and active participation in the discussions at the ILC is a demonstration of this government’s commitment to meeting its obligations as a member state of the ILO and also provides an opportunity to contribute to the development of International Labour Standards in critical areas to ensure that they reflect our unique circumstances and can be implemented to the benefit of our citizens.
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