The Governing Body of the International Labour Organization adopted a decision to transfer Palestine in the organization from a national liberation movement to an observer state.

This came at the conclusion of the meeting of the organization's Board of Directors on Palestine - Workers' Group, with the participation of the President of the Arab Trade Union Federation, Secretary-General of the Palestine Trade Union Federation, Shaher Saad, along with representatives of the Arab and international federations affiliated with the United Nations. The text issued by the meeting included the Organization's Board of Directors Resolution No. 352 accepting Palestine.

Saad said that the decision will be finally adopted at the International Labor Conference in June 2025, noting that the decision grants Palestine full participation in all structures of the International Labor Organization, and gives it the opportunity to move to associate membership.

He added that for the first time, Palestine will participate in 2025 with an official tripartite delegation referred to as participation (government - workers - employers).

He pointed out that the majority in the ILO meeting hall welcomed the decision with warm applause, with the exception of Israel, the occupying state, which opposed it.

The International Trade Union Confederation welcomed the decision of the ILO Governing Body to change Palestine's status from "liberation movement" to "non-member observer state" (having the rights of a state based on the UN resolution accepting Palestine as an observer state).

“This recognition by the ILO is a sign of hope and solidarity with the Palestinian people, who face enormous challenges to their human and labour rights,” said Luc Triangle, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, adding that “recognition of the State of Palestine is essential for sustainable peace.”