At a time when workers’ rights, democracy and social justice are increasingly under attack across the world, the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) once again demonstrated the importance of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as a global arena where workers can expose injustice, challenge repression and fight for stronger international labour standards and accountability.

Throughout the Conference, the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) stood in solidarity with workers confronting persecution, discrimination, exploitation and exclusion. Through its interventions in the ILO supervisory system, its engagement in negotiations on gender equality, and its participation in the adoption of a historic new standard for workers in the platform economy, BWI ensured that the voices and struggles of workers in construction, building materials, wood, and forestry sectors were heard on the international stage.

Defending international solidarity and the future of social justice

In his address to the ILC Plenary, BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson warned that the world is facing a profound crisis in which inequality, conflict and attacks on universal values threaten both workers’ rights and international cooperation. He reaffirmed that the ILO must remain faithful to its historic mission of advancing social justice and resisting a model of globalisation that leaves workers behind.

Yuson stressed that labour rights are human rights and condemned the denial of fundamental rights to migrant workers, including in Saudi Arabia. He welcomed the International Court of Justice advisory opinion affirming that Convention No. 87 protects the right to strike, while warning that legal recognition alone will not end attacks on this fundamental freedom. He also reiterated BWI’s solidarity with SUNTRACS in Panama, declaring clearly that “organising is not a crime.”

Addressing the growing dangers of war, occupation and humanitarian crises, Yuson called for the defence of peace, democracy and freedom of association as essential tools for resolving conflict and reducing inequality. Looking ahead to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, he stressed that technological progress must not become a new instrument of domination and exclusion, and that workers must have a central role in shaping the future of work.

Holding governments accountable: BWI at the Committee on the Application of Standards

The ILO Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) remains one of the most important mechanisms for ensuring that governments respect their obligations under international labour standards. During the 114th ILC, BWI used this platform to amplify the struggles of workers facing attacks on their rights and to demand accountability from governments that fail to uphold their international commitments.

In the CAS sitting on Panama, BWI strongly condemned the escalating persecution of its affiliate SUNTRACS, the country’s largest construction union. BWI highlighted the criminalisation of trade union activity, the prosecution and detention of workers and union leaders, continued financial restrictions, the dissolution of the SUNTRACS cooperative, and the union's exclusion from collective bargaining and social dialogue. BWI stressed that these actions form part of a systematic attack on independent trade unionism and freedom of association. BWI called on the Government to immediately implement all outstanding recommendations of the ILO supervisory bodies, end proceedings targeting trade unionists, restore SUNTRACS’ access to its funds, recognise its democratically elected leadership, guarantee the safe return of exiled leaders, restore genuine social dialogue, and cease all actions seeking the dissolution of the union.

 During the Special Sitting on Myanmar, BWI exposed the military junta’s continued failure to implement the recommendations of the ILO Commission of Inquiry. BWI drew attention to the forced recruitment of construction workers, the use of workplace information to facilitate military conscription, and ongoing violations of workers’ fundamental rights, including freedom of association, protection from forced labour and access to safe working conditions. BWI stressed that the evidence provided by workers clearly demonstrates the continued use of coercion, intimidation and exploitation, and called on the ILO and the international community to take decisive action to end violence and repression against workers and civilian communities.
BWI also intervened on several other cases reflecting broader attacks on workers’ rights and challenges to achieving decent work. On Argentina, BWI raised concerns over the weakening of labour inspection systems, reduced institutional capacity and the erosion of meaningful tripartite social dialogue, stressing that effective labour administration is essential to combat informality and protect workers’ safety and rights.

On Kyrgyzstan, BWI condemned the severe interference in independent trade union activity, including extensive state investigations, the detention of trade union leaders and the pressure that resulted in the forced resignation of leaders across the Federation of Trade Unions of Kyrgyzstan, including BWI affiliates. The death of BWI affiliate leader Kanatbek Osmonov following his detention and house arrest remains a stark reminder of the human cost of attacks on freedom of association. BWI called for full respect for workers’ right to organise, elect their representatives and carry out trade union activities free from intimidation, interference and retaliation.

On Nigeria, BWI highlighted continued anti-union discrimination and barriers preventing workers from freely organising and bargaining collectively. In South Africa, BWI recognised efforts to address the legacy of apartheid through employment equity measures while stressing the need for stronger implementation, enforcement and meaningful social dialogue to achieve genuine equality in the workplace.

BWI also intervened on Eritrea, expressing serious concern over the continued use of compulsory national service for construction and infrastructure projects, reaffirming that development can never be built on forced labour. On Iraq and Bosnia and Herzegovina, BWI emphasised that employment and reconstruction policies must create decent work, strengthen public institutions, promote and protect collective bargaining, address informality and skills challenges, and end impunity for violations of labour rights and occupational safety standards, and ensure that workers and their representative organisations play a central role in shaping labour market policies.

Advancing the transformative agenda for gender equality

BWI actively participated in the negotiations within the ILO Committee on Advancing the Transformative Agenda for Gender Equality, one of the most difficult and politically contested discussions of the Conference. Despite significant resistance, important advances were secured, including the recognition of the need for gender-responsive occupational safety and health (OSH) policies and stronger measures to prevent and address violence and harassment in the world of work.

A major achievement was the recognition that violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment, are occupational safety and health issues that require preventive and protective measures. This represents an important victory for workers and an essential step towards ensuring safer, more inclusive and equitable workplaces for all. See further.

A historic new Convention for workers in the platform economy

BWI also participated in the standard-setting discussions on decent work in the platform economy, which concluded with the historic adoption of the Decent Work in the Platform Economy Convention, 2026.
As digitalisation and platform-based work increasingly reshape employment relationships in BWI sectors, the new international standard gives trade unions an instrument to push governments to act, adopting national legislation and regulatory frameworks that ensure platform workers are recognised as workers, covered by labour law, social protection, protected by collective bargaining agreements, and guaranteed the same rights, wages, and social protections as other workers.

Advancing social dialogue and collective bargaining

BWI actively participated in the Committee on Social Dialogue and Tripartism, which delivered important outcomes for workers and trade unions. Key achievements included the recognition of informal workers within national social dialogue structures, reaffirmation of collective bargaining as a fundamental pillar of social justice, and stronger recognition of social dialogue and collective bargaining as essential tools for delivering a just transition. The Committee also agreed to convene the ILO's first-ever Meeting of Experts on Artificial Intelligence, marking an important step towards ensuring workers have a voice in shaping the future of AI at work.

Building alliances for gender equality

Alongside the Conference, BWI joined the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Domestic Workers Convention (C189) with the International Domestic Workers Federation and allies, highlighting both progress achieved and the ongoing struggle for domestic workers' rights. BWI also participated in the event _Feminist Labour Agenda in Times of Rising Authoritarianism_, alongside trade unions and labour rights organisations, to discuss strategies to defend women workers' access to justice and labour rights and to reclaim democratic spaces in an increasingly hostile global environment.

From international standards to workplace struggles

The outcomes of the 114th International Labour Conference reaffirm the importance of international labour standards as tools in the struggle for dignity, equality and justice. However, decisions adopted in Geneva will have little meaning if governments continue to ignore their obligations, repress independent trade unions, or fail to translate commitments into real improvements in workers’ lives.

From Panama, where construction workers continue to defend their union against persecution, to Myanmar, where workers face violence, forced labour and military repression, and Kyrgyzstan, where independent trade unionism has come under severe attack, the struggles brought to Geneva are the same struggles taking place every day in workplaces around the world.

BWI leaves the 114th ILC with renewed determination to ensure that international commitments are matched by accountability, implementation and concrete change. Through organising, solidarity and collective action, BWI and its affiliates will continue fighting for a world of work built on democracy, equality, safety and respect for workers’ rights.