About the Office

The ILO was founded in 1919 to bring governments, employers and workers together for united action in the cause of social justice and better living conditions everywhere. The most unique feature of the ILO is its tripartite structure where workers’ and employers’ representatives participate in its work on an equal footing with representatives of the governments.

The ILO’s mandate of social justice as the basis for peace is expressed today as Decent Work for all. Decent work is now recognized as a global goal, the promotion of which means striving for economic growth with equity, though a coherent blend of social and economic goals, which leds to opportunities for all women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity. This implies not just more jobs but better jobs. The ILO’s main methods of work are research and publications, training and capacity building, technical cooperation, standard-setting, knowledge sharing as well as advisory services.

The ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team (DWT) for South Asia and Country Office for India is a centre of excellence to realize Decent Work for sustainable social and economic development in South Asia. The Office provides knowledge-based, high quality technical and advisory services to tripartite constituents in Member States on a wide range of issues and builds partnerships to effectively promote ILO values and principles in support of the work-programmes of the ILO Country Offices in the South Asia subregion.

Some key areas of ILO’s work in South Asia are:

• Employment Strategies;
• Skills and employability;
• Micro and small enterprise development;
• Inclusive growth;
• Extending social protection;
• Occupational safety and health and conditions of work;
• Elimination of child labour;
• Gender equality;
• Protection of migrant workers;
• HIV/AIDS;
• Strengthening Ministries of Labour and Employment, Employers; and Workers’ Organizations;
• Labour market governance;
• Tripartism and social dialogue; and
• International Labour Standards.