Egypt welcomed the adoption of a resolution allowing Palestine to participate in the International Labour Organization (ILO) by an overwhelming majority, with 394 votes in favour and 17 against, during the 114th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, the Egyptian Ministry of Labour said on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
Minister of Labour Hassan Raddad, who chairs the Arab Labour Organization and heads Egypt’s tripartite delegation representing the government, employers, and workers, attended the session announcing the voting results on the draft resolution concerning the State of Palestine’s participation in ILO activities.
The vote, held on Tuesday, reflected broad international support for Palestine’s participation in the organization’s work in line with the rights and privileges previously granted to it by the ILO, the ministry said.
The resolution’s adoption underscores growing international backing for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people within international organizations and multilateral forums, it added.
The announcement followed a conference vote that reaffirmed support for enabling Palestine to participate in the ILO, in accordance with the rights and privileges already approved by the organization.
During the conference’s opening session, Raddad delivered a statement on behalf of the Arab Group, comprising 22 ILO member states, calling for the resolution to be adopted by consensus.
He noted that the International Labour Conference had, during its previous session, approved a resolution on Palestine’s legal status within the ILO and its participation rights, granting Palestine non-member observer state status and several rights and privileges related to participation in the organization’s activities.
Raddad said the earlier resolution included suspending relevant provisions of the conference’s rules to the extent necessary to implement those rights, adding that the ILO Governing Body had reviewed the matter and recommended suspending several related provisions.
As a result, the proposal before the conference was procedural in nature and aimed at implementing decisions already approved by both the International Labour Conference and the ILO Governing Body, he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Arab Group, Raddad urged all conference members to adopt the resolution by consensus to ensure the smooth conduct of conference proceedings and guarantee Palestine’s participation in accordance with the rights and privileges approved by the organization.
He praised participating delegations for their support, describing it as a reflection of growing international solidarity with the Palestinian cause and the rights of the Palestinian people.
Raddad reiterated that Egypt and Arab countries remain committed to supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and strengthening Palestine’s presence and participation within international organizations and forums in line with the principles of justice, fairness, and respect for international legitimacy.
The conference also witnessed broad support from participating delegations for the unified Arab position, which stressed the importance of enabling Palestine to exercise its rights within the ILO in accordance with the organization’s previous decisions and to strengthen its role within the multilateral international system.
The vote comes less than a year after the International Labour Conference approved a landmark resolution upgrading Palestine’s status within the International Labour Organization from a liberation movement to a non-member observer state, aligning its status more closely with that enjoyed at the United Nations and other international bodies.
The 2025 resolution granted Palestine a range of participation rights, including the ability to attend and speak at ILO meetings, submit proposals and amendments, co-sponsor agenda items, and participate more fully in conference proceedings, although it does not confer voting rights reserved for member states.
The move mirrors broader efforts across the UN system to expand Palestinian participation in international organizations. In May 2024, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution supporting enhanced Palestinian participation at the UN and urging the Security Council to reconsider Palestine’s application for full UN membership.
The issue has gained renewed international attention amid the ongoing war in Gaza and growing calls from many countries for greater recognition of Palestinian rights within multilateral institutions. Several UN agencies and international organizations have witnessed increased diplomatic efforts to strengthen Palestine’s representation and participation in their work.
The International Labour Organization, founded in 1919 and now a specialized UN agency, brings together governments, employers, and workers from its 187 member states to set international labour standards and promote decent work.
Palestine has participated in the ILO’s activities for decades, but its institutional status and participation rights have gradually expanded in recent years as international support for Palestinian representation has grown.
Ahram Online
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