RAMALLAH, June 6, 2025(WAFA) – Minister of Labor Inas al-Atari on Friday welcomed the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) resolution elevating the status of Palestine to a non-member observer state.
Minister Al-Atari welcomed the ILO’s resolution to upgrade the status of Palestine from a liberation movement to a non-member observer State, unanimously adopted by the ILO at the 113th session of the high-level ministerial International Labor Conference (ILC) in Geneva.
A total of 386 ILO Member States voted in favor of the resolution, 15 others against it, and 42 others abstained.
She extended her deep appreciation to the Member States of the ILO for their support to the State of Palestine, and noted that the resolution reflects the fact that the international community believes in the justice of the Palestinian cause and serves as a recognition of the Palestine’s status and the just rights of the Palestinian people, particularly given the ongoing Israeli occupation and Israel’s violations of Palestinian workers’ rights.
She affirmed that the resolution would pave the way for Palestine to effectively participate in ILO meetings and sessions as a non-member observer State represented by a tripartite delegation comprising members from the government (Ministry of Labor), employers, and the workers (represented by the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions), boosting Palestine’s capability to defend the rights of Palestinian workers at international forums.
She expressed her gratitude to all ILO Member States and institutions that voted in favor of the resolution, which she considered as one that comes at a historical moment and is especially symbolic.
She pledged that Palestine would continue to engage with all international partners to realize and gain all Palestinian workers’ rights at international forums.
Meanwhile, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, Ibrahim Khraishi, hailed the resolution as a new step on the path of the realization of the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights, first and foremost of which are the right to self-determination and the right to the establishment of the independent State of Palestine.
He expressed his hopes that Palestine’s status would be further elevated to that of full Member State.
He expressed regret over the opposition of the US to the resolution, noting that the US voted against the resolution just two days after it vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza.
K.F.
