Statement by Davide Dorino, Delegate of CGIL, CISL, UIL trade unions (Italy), Plenary session of the International Labour Conference

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Director-General, Chair, distinguished delegates and guests,

I have the honour of addressing you today on behalf of the three Italian trade union confederations: CGIL, CISL and UIL.

The weakening of the multilateral system and growing geopolitical instability - including Russia's unlawful aggression against Ukraine, the conflicts in Iran and the Middle East, the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan, and the USA coercive measures on Cuba and Venezuela - are causing immense human suffering and fuelling a series of unprecedent polycrisis. These shocks have disrupted the global economy, worsened the cost-of-living and energy crises, affected supply chains and productive sectors, and slowed the green transition needed to address climate change.

At the same time, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, climate change and demographic shifts are profoundly transforming the world of work. These scale and intensity of these challenges require stronger international cooperation, genuine social dialogue and ambitious collective responses capable of supporting workers and communities.

Rising inequality, insecurity and social injustice are having effects on workers and groups most at risk, particularly women, young people, migrants, pensioners and informal economy workers. Advancing social justice is fundamental to peace, democracy and inclusion. The social partners' role, also through a strong collective bargaining, is essential to improving working conditions, creating decent and quality jobs and combating in-work poverty, precariousness and social exclusion.

Not only the multilateral system is under attack; fundamental ILO Conventions relating to trade union and human rights, including freedom of association, are also deteriorating worldwide. According to the 2026 ITUC Global Rights Index, 72% countries deny workers access to justice, while half have arrested or persecuted trade unionists. We remain deeply concerned about the systematic violations of democratic participation and social dialogue in Belarus, Myanmar and other countries, where trade unionists continue to face persecution and imprisonment.

Italian trade unions support the recognition of the State of Palestine at both the national and international levels. We strongly condemn the ongoing violence and the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as well as the death penalty law applying to Palestinians. We call on the Italian government and EU institutions to fully and effectively support the two-state solution as the only viable path towards a just and lasting peace, ensuring the Palestinian people's right to a sovereign, independent and democratic state. Governments need to intensify efforts an immediate and permanent ceasefire, full humanitarian access and respect for international humanitarian law.

The right to collective action and the right to strike must be defended everywhere. We therefore welcome the recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which confirms that the right to strike is protected under ILO Convention No. 87. This interpretation has unprecedented legal and political weight underlining the credibility and authority of the multilateral and standard setting role played by ILO and its bodies, guiding national courts interpretation of law, as well as supporting trade unions in defending workers' rights.

At this challenging time, the ILO's core mandate must not be jeopardised by geopolitical divisions. Its tripartite capacity to promote and implement Conventions must be reaffirmed, together with stronger supervisory mechanisms. The work of the Committee on the Application of Standards, which marks its 100th anniversary this year, is essential in identifying violations and pushing governments to take necessary actions.

The ILO also has a crucial role in developing policies and international labour standards where a common global approach is essential. This is particularly evident in the Convention and Recommendations on decent work in the platform economy expected to be adopted at this Conference. Equally important are the impact of AI on employment, the social dimension of the twin transitions, occupational safety and health, and collective bargaining throughout multinational enterprises and global supply chains.

The AI revolution cannot be left to market forces alone. It requires a human-centred and rights-based governance model founded on strong legislation. Social dialogue and collective bargaining are indispensable to ensuring that AI improves jobs, productivity and workplace safety while preventing exploitation, discrimination, excessive surveillance and other risks to fundamental workers' rights. The benefits generated by AI must be shared fairly with workers through higher wages and reductions in working time without loss of pay.

Finally, allow me to say a few words about the ILO Office in Rome and the International Training Centre in Turin. The Office for Italy plays a vital role in promoting the Organization's values and objectives and is an essential point of reference for the social partners in advancing social dialogue, labour rights and international cooperation. We also reaffirm our commitment to the public and universal character of the ITC, whose contribution to capacity-building and training remains of fundamental importance.

Thank you for your attention.

• Video recording of the statement by Mr Dorino

1-12 June 2026

114th Session of the International Labour Conference