India, May 22 -- The United Nations top court issued a landmark advisory opinion on the right to strike on Thursday, finding that a cornerstone labour treaty protects the ability of workers to walk off the job.

The International Court of Justice was asked in 2023 by the International Labour Organisation, a UN agency, to settle an internal dispute over whether one of the ILO's conventions gives workers the right to strike.

Advisory opinions aren't legally binding but carry significant weight. The decision could have a worldwide impact on labour regulations, enshrining the right to strike in labour standards and international trade agreements.

The convention has been ratified by 158 countries and is incorporated into UN labour standards,...