Agreement between the International Labour Organisation
and the Organisation of American States

PREAMBLE

The International Labour Organisation and the Organisation of American States,

Wishing to co-ordinate their efforts to give effect, within the terms of the Charter of the United Nations, the Charter of the Organisation of American States, the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation and other applicable agreements, resolutions and declarations, to their respective principles and objectives, and

Desirous of contributing to the effective accomplishment of the objectives of the two organisations while avoiding overlapping and duplication of activities,

Have agreed upon the following:

ARTICLE I
Mutual Consultation

1. The Organisation of American States and the International Labour Organisation will consult regularly on matters of common interest for the purpose of realising their objectives and co-ordinating their respective functions.

2. The International Labour Organisation will inform the Organisation of American States of any plans for the development of its regional activities in the Americas and will consider any observations concerning such plans which may be communicated to it by the Organisation of American States with a view to accomplishing effective coordination between the two organisations.

3. The Organisation of American States will inform the International Labour Organisation of any plans for the development of its activities in regard to subjects of interest to the International Labour Organisation and will consider any observations concerning such plans which may be communicated to it by the International Labour Organisation with a view to accomplishing effective co-ordination between the two organisations.

4. When circumstances so require, consultations will be arranged between representatives of the two organisations to agree upon the most effective manner in which to organise particular activities and to secure the fullest utilisation of the resources of the two organisations.

ARTICLE II
Proposal of Agenda Items

1. Subject to such preliminary consultation as may be necessary, the Inter-American Conference, the Council of the Organisation of American States or the Inter-American Economic and Social Council may propose items for inclusion in the agenda of the Labour Conferences of American States ; the International Labour Organisation may propose items for inclusion in the agenda of the meetings of the organs of the Council of the Organisation of American States and of other pertinent inter-American meetings.

2. Each organisation will have recourse to the provisions of this article for the purpose of referring to the other organisation matters which it considers can most appropriately be dealt with by that organisation.

ARTICLE III
Statistical and Legislative Information

The Organisation of American States and the International Labour Organisation will seek the greatest possible co-operation to eliminate all unnecessary duplication of work ; they will combine their efforts to obtain the best use of statistical and legislative information 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 and other organisations from which such information is collected.

ARTICLE IV
Exchange of Information and Documents

1. The fullest and promptest exchange of information and documents concerning matters of common interest will be made between the Organisation of American States and the International Labour Organisation.

2. The Organisation of American States will be kept informed by the International Labour Organisation of developments in the work of the International Labour Organisation which are of interest to the Organisation of American States.

3. The International Labour Organisation will be kept informed by the Organisation of American States of developments in the work of the Organisation of American States which are of interest to the International Labour Organisation.

ARTICLE V
Reciprocal Representation

1. The International Labour Organisation will, subject to effective reciprocity, invite the Organisation of American States to attend the meetings of the International Labour Conference and the Labour Conference of American States Members of the International Labour Organisation. The representatives of the O.A.S. may participate without vote in the deliberations of these bodies and of their committees with respect to matters in which the Organisation of American States is interested.

2. The Council of the Organisation of American States, in preparing the regulations of the Inter-American Conference which are to be submitted to governments for consideration, shall include an article providing that the International Labour Organisation be invited to be represented at the Inter-American Conference. With reference to the Inter-American Specialised Conferences, the Council of the Organisation shall recommend to the corresponding organisation or entity that an invitation should be extended to the International Labour Organisation to be represented in those conferences whenever the items in their programmes may be of interest to the International Labour Organisation. In both cases such representatives may participate without vote in the conferences indicated.

3. Appropriate arrangements may be made by agreement from time to time for the reciprocal representation of the Organisation of American States and the International Labour Organisation at other meetings convened under their respective auspices which consider matters in which the other organisation has an interest.

ARTICLE VI
Administrative Arrangements

The Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States and the Director-General of the International Labour Office will make appropriate administrative arrangements to ensure effective collaboration and liaison between the staffs of the two organisations.

ARTICLE VII
Entry into Force, Modification and Duration

1. The present Agreement will enter into force from the date on which it is signed by the authorised representatives of the Organisation of American States and the International 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.

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Source: Official Bulletin of the ILO, Vol. XXXIII, 1950, No. 5