5.2.3. General Discussion Committee The General Discussion Commission is the technical commission where the items on the agenda of the Conference are examined by the Governing Body for general discussion.
The procedure of this Technical Commission and the Recurrent Discussion Committee is governed by Article 11ter of the General Standing Orders of the International Labour Conference.
Rules for the International Labour Conference Article 11ter. Procedure for the consideration of items placed on the agenda for general discussion 1. When a question has been placed on the agenda for general discussion, the International Labour Office shall send a report on that question to the governments, so as to reach them not less than two months before the opening of the session of the Conference at which the question is to be discussed. 2. The question shall be referred by the Conference to a committee for reporting. The general discussion provides an opportunity for ILO constituents to formulate orientations and guidelines
on the theme that is the subject of the Commission, with a view to:
Supporting their commitment to respond to the issues discussed; Strengthening the capacity of governments, as well as employers' and workers' organizations, to inform policy formulation and implementation; and Strengthening the work and impact of the ILO in this area. The usual procedure of this technical commission is described in the document International Labour Con-
ference. The Standing Orders at a Glance (ILO, 2019):
Holding of a general exchange of views on the question and on the Office report; Appointment of a small tripartite working party/drafting group to prepare draft conclusions (or a draft resolution) on the question with the help of the Office; Adoption of the text proposed by the working party/drafting group (after considering any amendments that may have been made to it by members of the committee) and referral to the Conference for final adoption. The Conference adopts resolutions and conclusions emanating from a general discussion by simple major44
PRACTICAL GUIDE TO TRADE UNION ACTION AT THE ILO
ity or consensus, i.e. no final voting is required.
