Angola strengthens its commitment to the ILO with the ratification of seven Conventions

© Alioune Ndiaye / ILO

GENEVA (ILO NEWS) – The Republic of Angola became the 50th country to ratify the Violence and Harassment Convention No. 190, the first ever international treaty aimed at ending violence and harassment at work, when it signed up to the convention on 11 June at the 113th International Labour Conference in Geneva. 

The ratification was one of many that the country made. Angola’s Minister of Public Administration, Labour and Social Security, Ms Teresa Rodrigues Dias, presented the instruments to the ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo.

Angola also demonstrated its dedication to Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) by ratifying the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), which were recognized by the International Labour Conference as fundamental conventions in 2022, as well as the Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161). This relevant step reflects Angola’s commitment towards fundamental principles and rights at work at a broader scale, as it marks the completion of ratification of all ten fundamental Conventions. 

Importantly, Angola also ratified a new governance instrument - the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No.122) which is vital for promoting social justice, economic stability, and sustainable development by placingfull, productive, and freely chosen employment at the heart of policymaking. 

Also at the heart of this milestone is the ratification of the Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102). With this step, Angola becomes the 68th country to ratify the Convention—bringing the ILO just two ratifications away from the target of 70 by 2026 set by the International Labour Conference as part of the Global Ratification Campaign for Convention No. 102. This process was actively supported by “Extending Social Security to Support the Formalisation of the Angolan Economy” (ESSAFE Angola), a project implemented by the ILO and funded by the European Union.

Angola’s commitment to promoting decent work and protecting worker’s rights across various sectors is also witnessed by the ratification of the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189). 

Convention No. 102 serves as a global benchmark for building comprehensive, rights-based, and sustainable social protection systems 

Convention No. 122 encourages national strategies that promote full, productive, and freely chosen employment, in consultation with the social partners.

Convention No. 155 provides the framework for national Occupational Health Services (OSH) policies and preventive measures.

Convention No. 161 promotes workplace-based services to monitor and protect workers’ health.

Convention No. 187 supports the development of coherent and sustainable national OSH strategies.

Convention No. 189 reflects the principle of equality of treatment for domestic workers, ensuring they receive the same fundamental rights, decent working conditions, and social protections as all other workers.

To date, Angola has ratified 42 Conventions, 27 of which are in force (including all 10 fundamentals). For further information, see NORMLEX.