Agreement between the International Labour Organisation and
the Arab Labour Organisation (*)

(Translation from French)

Whereas the International Labour Organisation, as a universal organisation, attaches the greatest importance to the maintenance and advancement in the social and labour field of world standards based on the principles set forth in the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation and the Declaration of Philadelphia and, while co-operating with the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security, remains outside political controversy between nations or groups of nations, and is at the disposal of all its Member nations to co-operate with them either severally or through regional organisations of which they are Members in implementing, in the light of the standards evolved through the International Labour Organisation, the objectives for which the International Labour Organisation itself exists,

Whereas the objectives for which the Arab Labour Organisation was founded, as defined in its Constitution and in the Arab Labour Charter, are to strengthen co-operation between its Members in achieving social justice, raising the workers' living standards and ensuring their material and moral welfare in freedom, dignity and equality of opportunity,

The International Labour Organisation and the Arab Labour Organisation, desirous of contributing within the general framework of the Charter of the United Nations, the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation, the Constitution of the Arab Labour Organisation and the Arab Labour Charter, to the effective accomplishment, in the Arab States, of their common aims, have agreed upon the following:

ARTICLE I
Mutual Consultation

1. The International Labour Organisation and the Arab Labour Organisation will consult regularly on matters of common interest for the purpose of furthering the effective accomplishment in the States Members of the Arab Labour Organisation of their common aims and eliminating unnecessary duplication of work.

2. The International Labour Organisation and the Arab Labour Organisation will keep each other informed of the development of their respective activities in regard to social questions of interest to the States Members of the Arab Labour Organisation. Each organisation will consider any observations concerning the development of those activities which may be communicated to it by the other organisation with a view to accomplishing effective co-ordination of their corresponding activities.

ARTICLE II
Reciprocal Representation

1. The International Labour Organisation will invite the Arab Labour Organisation to be represented at meetings of the International Labour Conference and the Governing Body, at African regional conferences and at any other meetings held under the auspices of the International Labour Organisation which are of interest to the Arab Labour Organisation and to participate at such meetings, without the right to vote, in discussion on subjects which fall within the competence of the Arab Labour Organisation.

2. The Arab Labour Organisation will invite the International Labour Organisation to be represented at meetings of the Arab Labour Conference and the Governing Body and at any other meetings held under the auspices of the Arab Labour Organisation which are of interest to the International Labour Organisation and to participate at such meetings, without the right to vote, in discussion on subjects which fall within the competence of the International Labour Organisation.

ARTICLE III
Exchange of Information

1. The International Labour Organisation and the Arab Labour Organisation shall combine their efforts to obtain the best use of statistical and legislative information at their disposal and to ensure the most effective utilisation of their resources in the assembling, analysis, publication and diffusion of such information with a view to reducing the burdens on the governments or organisations from which such information is collected.

2. Subject to such arrangements as may prove necessary to protect their confidential character, the fullest and promptest exchange of documents and information on matters of common interest will be made between the International Labour Organisation and the Arab Labour Organisation.

ARTICLE IV
Technical Co-operation

1. Should the development of the activities of the International Labour Organisation and the Arab Labour Organisation in areas of common interest so require, either organisation may request technical co-operation from the other where such co-operation is particularly likely to further the development of those activities.

2. Each organisation will endeavour, so far as possible, to meet such requests for technical co-operation in accordance with arrangements to be agreed upon in each instance.

3. The International Labour Organisation and the Arab Labour Organisation may, when the accomplishment of their common objectives so warrants, undertake joint action whose nature and forms, including the contribution of each organisation, will be determined by mutual agreement in each instance.

ARTICLE V
Complementary Administrative Arrangements

The Director-General of the International Labour Office and the Director-General of the Arab Labour Office will make appropriate arrangements for the effective implementation of this Agreement. They will ensure co-operation and close liaison between the competent staffs of the two organisations in areas of common interest. Where appropriate, technical inter-secretariat meetings will be held to facilitate co-ordination of the activities of the two organisations in areas of common interest.

ARTICLE VI
Entry into Force, Modification and Denunciation

1. The present Agreement will come into force from the date on which it is signed by the authorised representatives of the International Labour Organisation and the Arab Labour Organisation.

2. The Agreement may be modified with the consent of the two parties.

3. Either of the parties may denounce the Agreement by giving six months' notice to the other party.

In faith whereof the Director-General of the International Labour Office, duly authorised by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office, and the Director-General of the Arab Labour Organisation, duly authorised by the Arab Labour Conference, have signed the present Agreement in two copies, in French and in Arabic, both texts being authentic.

Done in Geneva, this fifteenth day of June of the year one thousand nine hundred and seventy-six.

For the Arab Labour Organisation:
(Signed): Dr. Tayeb Lahdiri
Director-General of the Arab Labour Office.

For the International Labour Organisation:
(Signed): Francis Blanchard
Director-General of the International Labour Office.

***

Published in: Official Bulletin of the ILO, Vol. LIX, 1976, Series A, No. 3

*This Agreement has been replaced by the Memorandum of Understanding between the International Labour Organization and
the Arab Labour Organization signed on 8 November 2007.