A38. What is the role of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR)?

Once a country has ratified an ILO Convention, it is required to report regularly on the measures it has taken for its implementation. Concerning the MLC, 2006, governments have to provide reports every six years detailing the steps they have taken in law and in practice to apply the Convention. Reports on the application of Conventions may be requested at shorter intervals. Governments are required to submit copies of their reports to national representative employers’ and workers’ organizations. These organizations may comment on the government reports, or send comments directly to the ILO on the application of Conventions.

When examining the application of international labour standards, the Committee of Experts makes two kinds of comments: observations and direct requests. Observations contain comments on fundamental questions raised by the application of a particular Convention by a State. These observations are published in the annual report of the Committee of Experts. Direct requests relate to more technical questions or requests for further information 34 . The comments concerning the MLC, 2006, have so far been presented through direct requests.

34 Information about the ILO’s supervisory system is available on the ILO website at www.ilo.org/normes under the heading “Labour standards”, and the links under the subheading “Supervisory bodies and procedures”.

General questions about the MLC, 2006