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At the 113th International Labour Conference in Geneva, the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted the “Convention on Prevention and Protection against Biological Hazards in the Workplace“. This is the very first international instrument to deal specifically with biological hazards in the workplace on a global scale. It was adopted on June 13, 2025 with 406 votes in favor, 12 against and 13 abstentions.
The objective of Convention n°192 is “to provide a legal framework for the respect, promotion and realization of the fundamental principle and right to a safe and healthy working environment concerning biological hazards, including provisions for preparedness and response arrangements for the effective management of emergencies related to biological hazards in the working environment, taking emerging and re-emerging hazards and risks into account“. This Convention must be ratified by States to be legally binding.
The Convention is accompanied by a Recommendation on Biological Hazards in the Workplace, which sets out in greater detail a number of implementation mechanisms, including risk assessment, early warning systems and training. It serves as a guideline for the application of the articles of the Convention, and is therefore not legally binding.
