ILO Actrav

22/07/2026

During a courtesy meeting with ILO staff in Pretoria, ACTRAV Director Oliver Röpke expressed his appreciation for the strong partnership between ACTRAV and the International Labour Organization Pretoria Office, highlighting the importance of the "One ILO" approach in advancing workers' rights and social dialogue across the region.

He recognized Pretoria's strategic role in supporting institutionalized social dialogue structures in Southern Africa Economic Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Employment and Social Partner meetings and South Africa's National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) as important source of inspiration for the continent.

Reflecting on the challenges facing the world of work, he stressed the need for stronger collaboration, greater integration and more strategic use of resources as the ILO responds to evolving labour markets, technological transformation and organizational reform.

Looking ahead, Oliver Röpke underscored ACTRAV's priorities in Africa, including:
· Strengthening workers' organizations and trade union renewal
· Promoting social dialogue and collective bargaining
· Supporting the formalization of the informal economy
· Protecting migrant workers' rights
· Advancing a just transition and digital transformation with workers at the centre

He also reaffirmed a fundamental principle of the ILO: workers' organizations are not external stakeholders, they are constituents whose voices must be reflected in programming, policy advice and engagement with governments and partners.

Concluding the visit, Oliver described the Pretoria Office as a trusted strategic partner and expressed his commitment to deepening collaboration and cooperation in support of social justice and decent work across Africa.

21/07/2026

At the Asia-Pacific and Africa Trade Union Conference on Social Dialogue in the Age of Digital Acceleration in Johannesburg, Oliver Röpke, Director of the International Labour Organization Bureau for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV), called on workers and their organisations to play an active role in shaping digital governance.
He underscored the importance of workers’ engagement on some of the most pressing issues facing the world of work today, including:

-Platform work and employment relationships
-Algorithmic management and automated decision-making
-Artificial intelligence and its impact on jobs and working conditions
-Workers’ data rights and privacy
-Skills development and lifelong learning
-Collective bargaining in digitally transformed workplaces
-Protection against discrimination, surveillance, and unfair treatment

Emphasising that social dialogue remains the most effective governance mechanism for managing periods of profound economic and technological change, Oliver Röpke also expressed his sincere appreciation to the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) for its longstanding partnership with ACTRAV.

This collaboration continues to strengthen the capacity of workers’ organisations while fostering solidarity and shared learning among trade unions across Asia, the Pacific, and Africa.

Describing the conference as an investment in solidarity, he highlighted the value of South-South cooperation, enabling trade unions to learn from one another and develop common responses to the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation.

14/07/2026

A fruitful meeting with Uruguay’s Minister of Labour and Social Security, Juan Castillo, on promoting social dialogue, strengthening collective bargaining, and ensuring the effective implementation of international labour standards.

Oliver Röpke congratulated Uruguay on chairing the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference and praised the country’s robust model of tripartite social dialogue, as well as its long-standing tradition of collective bargaining as a key pillar of democratic and balanced labour relations.

The discussions focused on technical support for following up on the recommendations of the Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS), as well as on the challenges associated with regulating the platform economy and artificial intelligence, including through the ratification and implementation of ILO Convention No. 193 on decent work in the platform economy.

A key theme of the exchange was the recognition of collective bargaining not as a stand-alone mechanism, but as an integral component of Uruguay’s democratic model of industrial relations, contributing to social cohesion, inclusion, and fair labour outcomes.

The Director of ACTRAV reaffirmed the International Labour Organization’s commitment to supporting national legislation in line with Conventions Nos. 158, 183 and 190, while strengthening tripartite social dialogue and collective bargaining to advance decent work in Uruguay.

14/07/2026

During his first day on mission in Montevideo, Oliver Röpke held a series of meetings with trade union leaders from across the Americas.

The Director of the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) paid a courtesy visit to Rafael Freire, General Secretary of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (CSA - Confederación Sindical de Trabajadores/as de las Américas ), at the organization’s headquarters.

Their discussions focused on the challenges facing workers’ organizations in the region, including respect for fundamental principles and rights at work, the promotion of social dialogue, and the defence of democracy. Oliver Röpke reaffirmed the International Labour Organization’s commitment to supporting workers’ organizations throughout the Americas.

At the opening of an ACTRAV Programme course for senior trade union leaders, organized by the ITCILO , Oliver Röpke called for building a new social contract anchored in decent work, fundamental principles and rights at work and living wages. He highlighted the vital role of trade unions in safeguarding democracy through freedom of association and collective bargaining. He also stressed the importance of organizing young workers and other vulnerable groups, particularly those in the informal and platform economies, to ensure that no worker is left behind.

07/07/2026

Oliver Röpke recently participated in two important discussions with trade union leaders from Europe and Central Asia, highlighting the vital role of social dialogue and multilateral cooperation in building a fair future of work.

At the Pan-European Regional Council (PERC) Summer School in Armenia, the Director of the ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV) called for greater solidarity and collective action to address the challenges and opportunities brought by digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
He highlighted the recent adoption of International Labour Organization Convention No. 193 on decent work in the platform economy as a landmark achievement for the global labour movement, helping to extend decent work protections to millions of workers worldwide.

Oliver Röpke stressed that trade unions have a central role to play:
-At the workplace : ensuring transparency in the use of AI systems, negotiating safeguards on data use and workplace surveillance, and protecting workers’ autonomy and dignity.

-At the national and sectoral levels: helping shape regulatory frameworks so that digital innovation strengthens, rather than undermines, workers’ rights.

At the Congress in Padua, he reaffirmed the importance of strengthening multilateralism and underscored the unique role of the ILO as the only United Nations agency founded on tripartism.

He emphasized that when international labour standards are effectively implemented through law, supported by strong multilateral institutions and meaningful social dialogue, they remain among the strongest guarantees that economic progress goes hand in hand with social justice.

At a time of growing geopolitical tensions, Oliver Röpke concluded by calling for renewed global cooperation, strong institutions, respect for fundamental principles and rights at work, and robust systems of social dialogue to tackle today’s major challenges, including climate change and digital transformation.
CES - ETUC

03/07/2026

Follow the story of Farhana, a single mother of six who has relied on platform work for seven years.

Platform work offers the promise of flexibility, but it also comes with deep precarity. In the event of an accident, workers can face a sudden drop in income, or lose their income entirely.

This short video shows how Singapore’s Platform Workers Act, introduced in 2025, transformed Farhana’s reality by granting workplace injury protection, CPF contributions and formal representation.

Much can be learned from the tripartite process behind the reform, from how Singapore’s National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) brought workers’ voices to the table, and from how the ILO’s Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) helped document this progress so unions around the world can learn from it.

The result is a policy brief that presents Singapore’s model and offers concrete pathways for unions seeking stronger protections for platform workers globally.

Read the full policy brief here: https://www.ilo.org/publications/platform-work-associations-and-platform-workers-act-singapore

Produced by the ILO’s Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) and Singapore’s National Trades Union Congress ( NTUC Singapore ).

01/07/2026

Building Stronger Social Dialogue for Decent Work in Armenia

Oliver Röpke, Director of the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV), met with Armenia’s Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Arsen Torosyan, together with CTUA President Elen Manaseryan and International Labour Organization specialist Gocha Aleksandria.

The discussions focused on recent progress in strengthening tripartite social dialogue, the implementation of labour sector reforms and proposed amendments to the Law on Trade Unions. Participants underlined the importance of maintaining genuine cooperation between government, employers and workers' organizations as the foundation for effective labour market governance.

Minister Torosyan reaffirmed that social dialogue remains a priority for the Government and highlighted the important contribution of trade unions to protecting workers' rights and promoting sustainable labour market reforms. He also expressed appreciation for the ILO's continued technical support and confirmed Armenia's readiness to continue aligning its labour legislation with international labour standards, including consideration of newly adopted instruments.

Mr. Röpke welcomed Armenia’s progress in strengthening tripartite cooperation and encouraged the country to be among the first to ratify ILO Convention No. 193 on Decent Work in the Platform Economy.

ACTRAV reaffirmed its commitment to supporting social dialogue, freedom of association, collective bargaining, and decent work for all workers in Armenia.

30/06/2026

Following the 114th International Labour Conference, Amanda Brown, Worker Vice-Chairperson of the Standard-Setting Committee on Decent Work in the Platform Economy, reflects on the adoption of the first international labour standard for workers in the platform economy.
She highlights why this is a landmark achievement for workers worldwide, reaffirming that platform workers are workers and must enjoy fundamental rights at work; including the rights to organize, bargain collectively, and access occupational safety and health protections.
She also underscores the crucial role of trade unions in organizing platform workers, advocating for ratification, and ensuring that the new standard translates into real improvements at the national level.

Following the 114th International Labour Conference, Amanda Brown, ...

29/06/2026

Strengthening Social Dialogue and Workers' Rights in Armenia

On the first day of his visit to Yerevan, ILO ACTRAV Director Oliver Röpke held two important meetings focused on advancing workers' rights, social dialogue, and decent work in Armenia.

In his meeting with the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, Ms. Anahit Manasyan, Oliver Röpke welcomed Armenia's ratification of ILO Convention No. 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work and stressed the importance of its effective implementation in both legislation and practice.

Following the recent adoption of the new international labour standard on platform work, he also encouraged Armenia to ratify the newly adopted ILO Convention No. 193. Ms. Manasyan reaffirmed the shared commitment of her Office, the ILO, and trade unions to advancing workers' rights and decent work in Armenia.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of protecting the right to strike and pursuing legislative and institutional reforms to strengthen effective social dialogue.

Mr. Röpke also met with Ms. Liana Badalyan, Projects Manager of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Office in Armenia, to exchange views on current socio-economic developments and their implications for the world of work and social dialogue. They discussed the vital role of trade unions in promoting workers' rights and fostering inclusive social and economic development.
Participants welcomed the successful implementation of joint initiatives to strengthen trade union capacity, promote social dialogue, engage young workers, and raise awareness of labour rights. They also explored future cooperation, including regional activities across Armenia, support for young trade unionists and other vulnerable groups, educational initiatives, and collaboration on environmental sustainability and a just transition in preparation for COP17.

Both meetings were attended by Ms. Elen Manaseryan, President of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia (CTUA), and Mr. Gocha Aleksandria, Senior Specialist in Workers' Activities at the ILO DWT/CO for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

24/06/2026

At the 114th International Labour Conference, Zingiswa Losi, Worker Vice-Chair of the Committee on Gender Equality, shares key outcomes of the general discussion.

She underscores the importance of social dialogue, political will, compliance, and trade union mobilisation to deliver real gains for women workers, especially in the informal economy. She also calls on unions to shape debates on digital, climate, and demographic transitions to ensure they are gender-responsive and inclusive.

At the 114th International Labour Conference, Zingiswa Losi, Worker...