ILO staff fear job losses as Trump proposes $107m cut in funding

GENEVA: The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is assessing the impact of a $107 million funding cut proposed by the Trump administration to the Geneva-based UN agency, according to an internal message reviewed by Reuters.

Staff at the ILO, which promotes international labour rights, told Reuters there are fears of further job cuts as the US, which contributes 22% of the ILO’s regular budget, seeks to row back on funding.

President Donald Trump has moved to unilaterally cancel $4.9 billion in foreign aid authorised by Congress for a number of international programmes, including a $107 million cut to the ILO, a White House statement said on Friday.

In the internal note sent to staff, ILO director-general Gilbert F Houngbo said he lacks “full clarity” on the cut’s implications. The ILO told Reuters that it is in contact with the US administration to seek more detail. Houngbo told staff that the US, the agency’s

largest donor, had yet to pay its 2024 and 2025 dues. The ILO’s $930 million total 2-year budget for 2026-2027 was approved in June.

(Taken from Reuters)