TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The International Labour Organization (ILO) has officially adopted a resolution upgrading Palestine's status from a "national liberation movement" to a "non-member observer state" during the 113th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) held in Geneva.
With this recognition, Palestine's status on the international stage has progressed. This step is symbolic and paves the way for broader Palestinian participation in international forums.
This decision is in line with UN General Assembly Resolution ES-10/23, adopted in May 2024, which encourages international bodies to align their recognition of Palestine. With its new status, Palestine can now participate more actively in ILO agendas, propose motions, speak in discussions, and participate in electing members to the conference bureau.
Support for this resolution came from various countries and groups, including the Arab Group, chaired by Bahrain, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, chaired by Pakistan, as well as countries such as Indonesia, France, Spain, China, and Venezuela. They stated that this recognition is an important step in strengthening Palestine's legitimacy as a state in the eyes of the world.
A non-member observer state is a status that allows an entity to participate in the activities and meetings of international organizations without being a full member. In the context of the ILO, Palestine now has expanded rights such as sitting among other states in alphabetical order, nominating members to the organizational structure, and proposing and supporting amendments and proposals.
According to WAFA, the draft resolution includes rights, including the right to make statements, propose motions, vote, and nominate delegations to the ILO General Assembly Bureau. This reflects the ILO's intention to treat Palestine as a functional state entity, although not yet formally as a full member.
For Palestine, this upgraded status holds strategic and political significance. Palestine's Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, stated that this decision is a clear response to Israel's rejection of the existence of the Palestinian state.
He also emphasized that this resolution is procedural, based on extensive legal analysis, and is not intended as a political step, but to align with UN General Assembly decisions.
Palestine meets the four criteria outlined in the 1933 Montevideo Convention and is qualified to be a member. This means that under international law, Palestine meets the criteria as a sovereign state.
Although observer state status is not full membership, many view this as a step forward in Palestine's diplomatic struggle. This status opens opportunities to advocate for the rights of Palestinian workers, especially amid the humanitarian crisis in the occupied territories, particularly in Gaza. Khraishi said some parties still refuse to act fairly and continue to apply double standards.
The ILO itself asserts that this status change does not affect the long-term solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict. Rather, it is a constructive step that strengthens the ILO's commitment to inclusivity and technical cooperation.
Meanwhile, over 200,000 Palestinian workers are currently unemployed due to the escalation of violence and blockade in Gaza. With observer status, Palestine now has a stronger international platform to advocate for the fate of its workers and pressure the international community to take action.
The upgrade of Palestine's status to a non-member observer state in the ILO is not only a diplomatic victory, but also a symbolic recognition of the Palestinian people's long struggle to be recognized as an independent and sovereign state. Although facing major challenges at the global level, this step marks a new momentum in Palestinian international diplomacy efforts. Khraishi hopes this will support full Palestinian membership, which aligns with the international community's position.
Sita Planasari also contributed to the writing of this article
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