Articles

1919–2011: ILO Conferences in changing times

09 May 2011

The ILO has played a role at key historical junctures – the Great Depression, decolonization, the creation of Solidarność in Poland, the victory over apartheid in South Africa – and today in the building of an ethical and productive framework for a fair globalization. The 100th Session of the International Labour Conference in June 2011 is an occasion to look back at some of its landmark sessions since 1919.
The International Labour Conference: Motor of the ILO

01 May 2011

In October of 1919, the first International Labour Conference (ILC) opened in an atmosphere of hope and anticipation. As delegates gathered in Washington, D.C., they were about to set in motion elements of the Treaty of Versailles that concerned the world of work.

International Labour Conference: ILO urges strong action on jobs

01 August 2010

The annual Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) concluded its 2010 session with a strong call for placing employment and social protection at the centre of recovery policies. Meeting in the run-up to the G20 Leaders summit in Toronto, representatives of the “real economy” – government, employer and worker delegates from the ILO’s 183 member States – expressed broad concern that the global economic recovery remained “fragile and unevenly distributed, and many labour markets are yet to see jobs recovery match economic recovery”.

International Labour Conference 2009: World leaders support ILO “Global Jobs Pact”

01 August 2009

The Pact received strong support from heads of State and government, vice-presidents, ministers of labour, workers and employers and other economic and labour leaders participating in an ILO Jobs Summit on 15–17 June. The summit provided a first-of-its-kind opportunity to discuss policies that are being implemented at national and international levels to address the global jobs crisis.
Stemming the crisis: World leaders forge “Global Jobs Pact”

01 August 2009

Faced with the prospect of a prolonged global increase in unemployment, poverty and inequality and continued duress for enterprises, in June 2009 the ILO adopted a historic Global Jobs Pact designed to guide national and international policies aimed at stimulating economic recovery, generating jobs and providing protection to working people and their families.

A voice for dialogue and decent work

01 August 2007

In June, the ILO awarded its first annual Decent Work Research Prize to Nobel Peace laureate and former South African President Nelson Mandela and the eminent academic and specialist in social security, Professor Carmelo Mesa-Lago...