In addition to adopting Resolutions and Guidelines, the International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) identifies priority topics that require new or updated statistical standards. To support this process, the ILO forms dedicated Technical Working Groups. These groups provide expert advice to the ILO during the development of statistical standards that are later presented to the ICLS for discussion and adoption.
Each Technical Working Group is tripartite in nature, bringing together experts from governments, employers, and workers’ organizations. Representative from relevant regional and international organizations often also participate in these groups, ensuring coherence across different statistical standards. Members contribute to the standard-setting process by sharing their knowledge and practical experience in producing and using labour statistics related to the identified priority areas, and by ensuring the international statistical standards address and are responsive to regional and national differences and needs as relevant.
Following the 21st ICLS, the following topics are currently being addressed by Technical Working Groups.
International labour migration statistics
The ILO Technical Working Group on international labour migration statistics (TWG_ILMS) was established in June 2024, following discussions by the 21st ICLS regarding the need to revise the existing Guidelines concerning statistics of international labour migration, first endorsed in 2018. A review of national practices conducted by the ILO in 2023 revealed important differences in the availability and use of the main sources for statistics of international labour migration, with slightly less than half of countries having in place the three main types of data sources recognized, namely population censuses, surveys, and administrative records. Nevertheless, most countries had reported having plans to improve their statistics on the topic within five years.
The revision aims to update the Guidelines to ensure their alignment with emerging developments taking place in follow-up to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (2018) and the Global Compact on Refugees (2018), both of which emphasize the need for improved standards and data. In particular, the updated Guidelines will be aligned with the newly adopted UN Recommendations for Statistics of International Migration and Temporary Mobility (2025), the System of National Accounts (2025), the International Recommendations on Statelessness Statistics (2023), and the International Recommendations on Refugee Statistics (2018).
The TWG_ILMS is tasked with discussing proposed revisions to the scope and conceptual framework for statistics on international labour migration and mobility, with a view to publish revised Guidelines by the end of 2025. In the longer-term the TWG_ILMS will continue to focus on identifying and sharing good practice to further strengthen and expand methodological guidance in this area.
Work-related violence and harassment statistics
The ILO Technical Working Group on Work-related Violence and Harassment (TWG_WVH) was established in May 2025. The topic was highlighted as a priority by the 21st ICLS in response to the adoption of the Violence and Harassment Convention C190 in 2019 and the call for statistics in its accompanying Recommendation R206.
Convention C190 recognizes the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment and highlights the importance of evidence-based policy by calling for the collection and use of reliable data. This includes data disaggregated by sex, form of violence and harassment, sector, and other relevant factors to inform prevention strategies, monitor progress, and support victims effectively.
A review of nationally representative surveys conducted in 2020-2021 by the ILO revealed that the available data were not sufficient to understand the nature, the extent or the impact of work-related violence and harassment. The review also highlighted important differences in the conceptual and measurement approach across existing surveys.
The TWG_WVH will discuss the country practices and conceptual and measurement issues through online meetings and will propose draft Guidelines for endorsement by 2028.
Occupational safety and health statistics
The ILO Technical Working Group on Occupational Safety and Health Statistics (TWG_OSH) was established in November 2025, following the decision of the 21st International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) to initiate a revision of the international statistical standards on occupational safety and health. The current standard, the Resolution concerning statistics of occupational injuries adopted by the 16th ICLS in 1998, focuses exclusively on occupational injury statistics and does not address other essential OSH domains such as occupational diseases, exposure to workplace hazards, or prevention- and governance-oriented indicators.
The recognition of a safe and healthy working environment as a Fundamental Principle and Right at Work (2022) has increased the demand for comprehensive, reliable and internationally comparable OSH statistics. A recent review of national OSH statistical practices carried out by the ILO identified persistent gaps in data availability, coverage and comparability. These findings, summarized in the National Practices in Occupational Safety and Health Statistics report (link), highlight underreporting of accidents, limited surveillance of occupational diseases, uneven coverage of hazard exposure, and challenges in using multiple data sources.
To support the revision process, the ILO prepared an Issue Paper on OSH Statistics, which outlines the rationale, scope, and proposed thematic areas for updating the 1998 Resolution. The Issue Paper identifies the need to expand the statistical framework to include exposures to hazards, occupational diseases, leading indicators of prevention and system performance, and improved data governance, interoperability and classification standards. These themes were further discussed during the first online meeting of the TWG_OSH, for which a Summary of Main Points and Next Steps is available .
The revision aims to modernize the OSH statistical framework to better reflect contemporary workplace realities, including emerging risks (such as psychosocial and climate-related risks), diverse employment arrangements, and new opportunities created by digital technologies and integrated administrative data systems. The updated standard will broaden the scope of OSH statistics and support countries in producing data that are more prevention-oriented, coherent across sources and better aligned with labour, health and social protection frameworks.
The TWG_OSH will continue to review national practices, discuss conceptual and measurement issues, and propose elements for a revised Resolution for consideration at the 22nd ICLS in 2028. Its work includes online technical meetings, thematic consultations and a global webinar series designed to facilitate knowledge exchange across regions and institutions. The Working Group brings together experts from governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, as well as representatives from regional and international bodies, ensuring coherence across related statistical standards.