(1)

In 2019, at its 108th session, the International Labour Conference adopted Convention No 190 of the International Labour Organization (ILO) concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work, 2019, which may be cited as the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (the ‘Convention’).

(2)

The Union promotes the ratification of international labour conventions that have been classified by the ILO as up to date in order to promote decent work for all, health and safety at work and gender equality, as well as to combat discrimination.

(3)

The Convention falls within the shared competence of the Union. Both the existing relevant Union rules and the provisions of the Convention set minimum requirements. The Convention does not risk affecting existing Union rules or alter their scope.

(4)

It is considered appropriate for the Union to exercise its competence regarding those parts of the Convention that specifically concern the improvement of the working environment to protect workers’ health and safety and equality between men and women in matters of employment and occupation, to the extent that the Union has adopted rules thereof.

(5)

The Union cannot ratify the Convention, as only States can be parties thereto.

(6)

In this situation, the Union’s external competence may be exercised through the Member States acting as intermediaries.

(7)

All EU Member States supported the objectives of the Convention and played a key role for its adoption. In the tripartite body proposing the Convention for adoption, no Member State voted against or abstained.

(8)

Member States should be invited to ratify those parts of the Convention that specifically concern the improvement of the working environment to protect workers’ health and safety and equality between men and women in matters of employment and occupation, to the extent that the Union has adopted rules thereof, in accordance with the applicable national and constitutional procedures and practices and Article 19(5) of the ILO Constitution,