"Sheng Li will not assume the deputy director-general position in July as previously anticipated," International Labor Organization (ILO) Director-General Gilbert Houngbo announced on 1/6. The reason cited was the United States' "delays in paying outstanding dues."

As of 1/6, the total amount of outstanding membership contributions owed by the United States to the ILO over the past two years has reached more than 173 million Swiss francs (220 million USD). Additionally, Washington is expected to contribute nearly 84 million Swiss francs (more than 106 million USD) for its 2026 allocation. However, the United States is not the only nation with delayed fund payments, according to the ILO.

Sheng Li, a senior official in the US Department of Labor. Photo: *People Matters*

Sheng Li serves as a senior official within the US Department of Labor, and his appointment to the ILO was announced in April.

The ILO stated that the decision to cancel Li's appointment "does not affect" the United States' ability to resolve its outstanding debts and restore its status as the "largest contributor." "The ILO continues constructive dialogue with the US government on this matter," Director-General Houngbo noted.

The ILO has been without a deputy director since September 2025, following the departure of Celeste Drake, also a US citizen.

The position of ILO deputy director-general has historically been held by a US citizen, but the agency's staff union has questioned maintaining this tradition given Washington's failure to fully pay its contributions.

Like other United Nations agencies, the ILO faces significant financial pressure and is undergoing major reforms while striving to tighten its budget. The ILO employs 3,454 staff members, with 1,175 at its Geneva headquarters and 2,279 across its worldwide offices, according to December 2025 figures.

Thanh Tam (According to AFP)