On 16 June 2023, the 111th session of the International Labour Conference /ILC/, the first ILC of the newly elected Director-General of the ILO, Gilbert Houngbo, concluded successfully. More than 5,000 delegates representing governments, workers and employers from the ILO's 187 member states participated in the event. This year, the large-scale international event was held under the call for social justice.

The 17-member tripartite national delegation led by Ivanka Shalapatova, Minister of Labour and Social Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria, actively participated in all committees of the 111th session of the ILC. The Bulgarian national delegation contributed to the development of a new international standard in the field of quality apprenticeships, to the adoption of conclusions on the just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all and on the strategic goal of labour protection, as well as to the achievement of consensus which led to the adoption of The Programme and Budget of the International Labour Organisation /ILO/ for the period 2024-2025.

In addition to the Head of the national delegation, plenary speeches were also delivered by the Delegate of the Bulgarian Employers Mr. Tsvetan Simeonov, President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry /BCCI/, and the Delegate of the Bulgarian Workers Mr. Plamen Dimitrov, President of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria /CITUB/.

In his speech on June 7, 2023, Tsvetan Simeonov emphasized that it is important for Bulgarian employers not to allow politicization of labour relations and to achieve a balance between measures to strengthen the economy and those to improve the living environment. Referring to the discussions on the minimum wages, he explained that the amendments to the national labour legislation are in contradiction with the European directives and do not lead to the implementation of Convention 131 of the ILO, which provides for a mechanism for determining the amount of the minimum wage.

In his speech on June 13, 2023, Plamen Dimitrov emphasized that reducing income inequality requires the implementation of a multifaceted approach combining policies to ensure fair pay, including adequate living minimum wages and enhanced collective bargaining. Mr. Dimitrov laid out his vision for a new human-oriented social contract that guarantees social justice. According to him, among the key elements of this contract are the provision of minimum wages, the strengthening of collective bargaining at all levels and in all sectors, and equal pay for work of equal value between women and men.

On 12 June 2023, for the second time in history, a resolution was adopted under Article 33 of the ILO Constitution. The resolution, adopted by a large majority after a vote, aims to ensure compliance by the Government of Belarus with the recommendations of the ILO Commission of Inquiry which examined observance of Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize of 1948 and Convention No. 98 on the right to organize and to bargain collectively since 1949.

On 13 June 2023, after lively and difficult debates, the participants of the 111th session of the ICC managed to reach a consensus on the adoption of the ambitious Program and Budget of the ILO for the period 2024-2025. Despite the differences expressed on some issues, governments, workers and employers united around a commitment to combat all forms of discrimination and exclusion on any basis.

On 14 and 15 June 2023, the World of Work Summit was held under the theme "Social Justice for All". During the Summit the initiative of the new ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo to create a Global Coalition for Social Justice was discussed. The Bulgarian Workers' Delegate Plamen Dimirtov was a speaker on the panel dedicated to addressing inequalities, informality and facilitating inclusion. He addressed the rise of income inequality around the world, pointing out that productivity is rising but workers are getting paid less. He pointed out that fair taxation, fair pay policies and enhanced collective bargaining are key to reducing income inequality. In his presentation, Plamen Dimitrov also touched on the issue of the introduction of artificial intelligence and its impact on the world of work.

Following a vote on 15 June 2023, the 111th Session of the ILC adopted the Recommendation on Quality Apprenticeships by an almost absolute majority. This Recommendation aims to support people of all ages in acquiring skills, upskilling and reskilling. It provides a clear definition of apprenticeships, specifies aspirational standards for quality apprenticeships, including rights and protection for apprentices.

The ILC endorsed the ILO Guidelines for a Just Transition to Environmentally Sustainable Economies and Societies as a basis for action and a central reference for policymaking.

Delegates also adopted a resolution on the strategic objective of labour protection, which harts a way forward towards more inclusive, adequate and effective labour protection for all workers, and creates a basis for developing a plan of action.

The plenary session approved the report of the main supervisory body of the ILO – the Committee on the Application of Standards. The Committee discussed the General Survey on Achieving Gender Equality at Work and examined 24 individual country cases related to the observance of ILO Conventions. The Committee's conclusions emphasized the urgent need to eliminate all forms of discrimination in employment and occupation, guarantee full and effective maternity protection and ensure the right of workers with family responsibilities to engage in employment.