Australia ratifies all fundamental Conventions and Convention No. 191 enters into force

© Alioune Ndiaye / ILO

GENEVA (ILO News) – On Tuesday 29 October 2024, H.E. Ms Amanda Gorely, Australian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, presented the instruments of ratification for Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) and the  Safe and Healthy Working Environment (Consequential Amendments) Convention, 2023 (No. 191) to the ILO Director-General, Gilbert Houngbo. 

In depositing the instruments of ratification, Ambassador Gorely stated “Australia is proud to have ratified all 10 Fundamental Conventions. In doing so Australia demonstrates its respect for the fundamental rights of all workers, and shows it is a fair, safe and secure place to work and do business. In particular, our ratification of Convention No. 187 reaffirms Australia's commitment to a safe and healthy working environment. We urge other ILO Members States to join us in taking this step, as ratification ensures governments continue to promote a safe and healthy working environment and protect workers from occupational harm.” 

Mr Houngbo, welcomed the ratifications, stating :  “I applaud this important milestone; the ratification of all fundamental standards attests to Australia’s commitment to decent work and social justice. With the ratification of Convention No. 187, Australia is once again affirming its engagement to respect and promote a safe and healthy working environment.  Further, this marks the second ratification of Convention No. 191. The Convention will therefore enter into force today, a key step for maintaining legal coherence in the body of International Labour Standards.” 

Australia is the 69th Member State of the ILO to ratify Convention No. 187, and it will enter into force for Australia on 29 October 2025. 

Australia is the 2nd Member State to ratify Convention No. 191, meaning it will now enter into force. Convention No. 191  aims to maintain a clear and consistent legal framework by amending a number of ILO instruments to reflect the inclusion, in 2022, of a safe and healthy working environment in  the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. 

To date, Australia has ratified 62 ILO Conventions and 2 Protocols. For further information, see NORMLEX .