Representatives of athlete unions from around the world, including Alexander Engelhard, Secretary General of the EuroLeague Players Association (ELPA), participated in negotiations at the International Labour Organization (ILO), resulting in the adoption of sectoral guidelines aimed at strengthening the protection of professional athletes’ rights.
The guidelines address the application of fundamental principles and rights at work, as well as the prevention and elimination of violence and harassment in the world of professional sport. They are intended to provide governments, social partners, and other stakeholders with practical guidance on how to better protect professional athletes at both national and international levels.
The ILO’s tripartite negotiation process brings together representatives of governments, employers’ organizations, and workers’ organizations. In the case of professional sport, the workers’ delegation included representatives from leading athlete unions worldwide.
Special recognition goes to Brendan Schwab, Matthew Graham, Camila Garcia, Conrad Smith, and Walter Palmer for leading the delegation of athlete unions and helping bring the guidelines across the finish line.
Athlete representatives now look forward to applying these guidelines in their ongoing advocacy work to further strengthen the rights, safety, and wellbeing of professional athletes worldwide.
