Standards and rights at work

Many international labour standards are relevant to the sector, including those on freedom of association, collective bargaining, homework, employment agencies, discrimination (employment and occupation), and safety and health, and the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. The adoption of a Recommendation on the employment relationship could be of great importance to freelance journalists and to performers. The Recommendation was adopted at the 95th Session of the International Labour Conference, June 2006 (details available from the Social Dialogue, Labour Law and Labour Administration page and Report V from that Session of the Conference).

Relevant international intellectual property standards

International intellectual property standards relevant to the Media, Culture, Graphical sector have been developed by the ILO, UNESCO, WIPO and the WTO, among others.

The ILO/UNESCO/WIPO Rome Convention of 1961 covers copyright in music, acting and other related areas, and now has over 85 States parties. The Rome Convention was an important early standard in the field of intellectual property and the respective rights of performers, producers and broadcasters.

Full text of The Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations, 1961 can be viewed here and the list of its Contracting Parties here.

For more information on international intellectual property standards please see the ILO fact sheet (pdf, 108k).

Links to international labour standards information

ILO Conventions (ILOLEX database)

• C87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948. Ratifications.
• C98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949. Ratifications.
  
• C138 Minimum Age Convention, 1973. Ratifications.
  
• C155 Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981. Ratifications.
  
• C158 Termination of Employment Convention, 1982. Ratifications.
  
• C161 Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985. Ratifications.
  
• C171 Night Work Convention, 1990. Ratifications.
  
• C175 Part-Time Work Convention, 1994. Ratifications.
  
• C177 Home Work Convention, 1996. Ratifications.
  
• C182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999. Ratifications.
  

Committee of Freedom of Association

• Cases on the media, culture and graphical industries.