Partnerships

Mobilizing for decent work

The ILO is working to develop analytical approaches and policy positions to mobilize the international community around the Decent Work Agenda so as to influence policy positions that are crucial in making decent work viable and operational at the national level. To further promote the Decent Work Agenda, the underlying concepts have to be translated into operational activities so they are reflected in national and international development strategies, as well as in the operational agendas of other global development players and their constituents. This will help ensure the centrality of employment, fundamental rights at work, social protection and social dialogue in the development approaches adopted by the international community, and mobilize resources for this purpose.

The ILO is developing synergies with key players in the multilateral system. Efforts to find new methods of addressing problems have resulted in the ILO’s entering into a number of special partnerships. These bring together international institutions, civil society and private sector organizations, trade unions, and national governments, in pursuit of common goals. The following examples are highlighted.

Secretary-General's Youth Employment Network

Global Migration Group

An inter-agency group of heads of agencies (ILO, IOM, OHCHR, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNODC, UN-DESA, UNDP, UNFPA and the World Bank), which aims (i) to promote the wider application of all relevant international and regional instruments and norms relating to migration; and (ii) to provide more coherent and stronger leadership to improve the overall effectiveness of the United Nations and the international community's policy and operational response to the opportunities and challenges presented by international migration. The GMG grew out of an existing inter-agency group, the “Geneva Migration Group”, which was established in April 2003 in response to the UN Secretary-General's concern to develop a global architecture on migration issues and in recognition of the need to strengthen strategic alliances between the agencies to enhance coordination and complementarity. The GMG meets at regular intervals. The GMG is developing a programme of work to focus on priority migration issues that would benefit from more vigorous inter-agency consultation and collaboration,

Global Compact

ILO participation in the Compact focuses on the promotion of the four labour principles of the initiative, which derive directly from the ILO Declaration on fundamental principles and rights at work.

International partnership against child labour in agriculture

The ILO, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) and International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF) have teamed up to tackle child labour in agriculture. Key areas of cooperation for the new partnership are policies and activities to promote the application of laws on child labour in agriculture, especially to ensure that children do not carry out hazardous work in agriculture; to improve rural livelihoods, and mainstream child labour issues into national agricultural policies and programme; to reduce the urban, rural and gender gap in education; and to promote youth employment opportunities in agriculture and rural areas.

ILO-Inter-Parliamentary Union Handbook - A practical guide for parliamentarians to combat the worst forms of child labour

FAO-ILO: Working together - Food, Agriculture and Decent Work

Since the Memorandum of Understanding of 2004 the FAO and ILO have developed cooperation in various fields, including decent employment, child labour in agriculture, youth employment, cooperatives and producers' organizations, small and medium enterprises, rural workers, safety and health, emergencies and sustainable livelihoods, crops, fisheries, forestry, labour statistics

Green Jobs Initiative

A partnership the United Nations Environment Programme, the ILO, the International Trade Union Confederation, and the International Organisation of Employers. The Initiative promotes opportunity, equity and just transitions, and mobilizes governments, employers and workers to engage in dialogue on coherent policies and effective programmes leading to a green economy with green jobs and decent work for all.

Green Jobs: Towards Decent Work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World

Changing patterns of employment and investment resulting from efforts to reduce climate change and its effects are already generating new jobs in many sectors and economies, and could create millions more in both developed and developing countries. However, the report also finds that climate change will continue to have negative effects on workers and their families, especially those whose livelihoods depend on agriculture and tourism. Action to tackle climate change as well as to cope with its effects is therefore urgent and should be designed to generate decent jobs.

Legal texts

Agreements with other organizations