Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR)
Q&A with Corinne Vargha on the launch of the 2021 CEACR Report
The Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) is one of the key elements of the ILO’s supervisory system for International Labour Standards. It is an independent body composed of 20 high-level legal experts, charged with examining the application of ILO Conventions and Recommendations by ILO Member States. It has just published its annual report. ILO News discussed the main findings with Corinne Vargha, Director of the International Labour Standards Department.
1. ILO News: What were the key findings and recommendations of the report?
The key message is that the COVID-19 crisis did not suspend obligations under ratified international labour standards (ILS) and the concrete commitments made by ILO Member States to protect the dignity and freedom of people at work remained during the current pandemic, and will strengthen the resilience of societies in building back better. Any derogations should be exercised within clearly defined limits of legality, necessity, proportionality and non-discrimination.The CEACR also identified some specific challenges resulting from the pandemic:
- First, as countries have taken exceptional measures to safeguard national security and public health, the power of the executive has grown exponentially. But this does not remove the need to comply with international law.
- Second, human rights and ILS remain universal.
- Thirdly, the pandemic has exacerbated the plight of many vulnerable and marginalized groups. This will create an increase in inequality and needs to be properly addressed by policy makers.
- Finally, the pandemic has severely disrupted the maritime sector (which employs nearly two million seafarers worldwide and handles more than 90 per cent of world trade). The CEACR noted with deep concern that while ports around the world continued to operate uninterrupted, seafarers face extreme difficulties in disembarking and transiting through countries during their repatriation.