UN labour agency freezes U.S. official’s appointment over unpaid dues

Key points

• The International Labour Organization has withdrawn the appointment of a senior U.S. official as its deputy chief after Washington failed to clear outstanding contributions, highlighting growing concerns over the agency’s financial stability The International Labour Organization has rescinded the appointment of the top U.S. official to be ​deputy head of the UN ⁠agency because of delays in payments from the United States, it said on Monday.
• (June 1, 2026) "Sheng Li (United States of America) will therefore not assume the position of Deputy Director-General in July as previously foreseen," it said in a ⁠statement to Reuters.
• The U.S. Department ⁠of Labor did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.
• Sheng Li was appointed to the role ​by the ILO in April after months of delays.
• However, the ILO has since told the U.S. that the appointment will not go ahead unless it pays.