On 27 September 2023, the Government of Papua New Guinea deposited the instruments of ratification of the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), the Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144), and the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190). With these ratifications Papua New Guinea becomes the 157th ILO member State to ratify Convention No. 144, the 150th ILO member State to ratify Convention No. 81, both priority governance Conventions, and the 33rd ILO member State and the 3rd in Asia and the Pacific to ratify Convention No. 190.
In depositing the instruments of ratification, Kessy Sawang Minister for Labour and Employment of Papua New Guinea stated, "Despite the challenges we continue to face in a constantly evolving world of work, our aspirations and commitment in advancing social justice and the fundamental principles and rights at work through the compliance and application of International Labour Standards at the national level, remains paramount. The deposition of these instruments gives reason for everyone involved, including our national workers, our industries and employers, our government, and the ILO to be proud of."
On receiving the instrument of ratification, Chihoko Asada-Miyakawa, ILO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, declared: "I am very pleased to welcome the ratification of Conventions No. 81, 144 and 190 by Papua New Guinea. This represents an important step to strengthen the measures that have already been taken at the national level to reinforce tripartite consultations, to create an effective labour inspection system and to promote and realize the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment."
Convention No. 144, accompanied by Recommendation No. 152, requires effective tripartite consultations concerning the development, adoption and supervision of international labour standards governing all aspects of the world of work. By ratifying Convention No. 144, Papua New Guinea confirms its commitment to promoting the application of the principle of social dialogue, bringing together governments, employers', and workers' organizations through tripartite consultations.
Convention No. 81 is one of the key ILO instruments on labour inspection and sets the foundation towards further coverage through other instruments such as its Protocol of 1995, which extends the application of the Convention to activities in the non-commercial services sector, and the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129). The ratification of Convention No. 81 represents a formal commitment, made by Papa New Guinea, in promoting decent work through an efficient and effective labour inspection system.
Convention No.190 is the first international labour standard to address violence and harassment in the world of work. Together with Recommendation No. 206, it provides a common tripartite framework for action and a unique opportunity to shape a future of work based on social justice and decent work. These instruments will be key to achieve the objectives set by the ILO Centenary Declaration on the Future of Work, adopted in 2019, that clearly commits to a world of work free from violence and harassment, and more recently, and by the ILO's Global call to action for a human-centred recovery from the COVID-19 crisis that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient.
These Conventions and accompanying Recommendations are tangible evidence of the enduring value and strength of social dialogue and tripartism, which have shaped them and will be essential in implementing them at national level.
Papua New Guinea has ratified 26 Conventions, 23 of which are still in force, including eight out of ten fundamental Conventions and three out of four governance Conventions.
