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Workers and Freedom of Association
There can be neither social dialogue nor progress toward social
justice without freedom of association. Freedom of association
gives workers a voice with which to express their aspirations,
strengthens their position in collective bargaining and enables
them to participate in the framing and implementing of economic and
social policy. It is furthermore a prerequisite for cooperation on
equal footing between workers, employers and government.
The struggle for the right of workers’ to express their interests
through independent trade unions began more than a century ago and
continues to this day with many still deprived of this fundamental
right, risking harassment, dismissal, imprisonment and in some
cases death.
A major step forward in this struggle has been the recognition by
the international community, of freedom of association and the
right to organize as fundamental human rights. This recognition has
lead to the adoption of two “core” standards by the ILO:
ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of
the Right to Organize Convention
“Workers and employers, without distinction whatsoever, shall
have the right to establish and, subject only to the rules of the
organisation concerned, to join organisations of their own choosing
without previous authorisation”.
ILO Convention 98 on the Right to Organize and Collective
Bargaining
“Workers shall enjoy adequate protection against acts of
anti-union discrimination in respect of their employment.”
The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
and its Follow-up, adopted by the International Labour
Conference at its 86th session (June 1998) has further
strengthened international commitment to the rights to organize and
bargain collectively by encouraging all member States to respect
the principles contained in these Conventions. In addition, the
ILO Committee on Freedom of Association examines and
decides upon complaints against member States of violations of
freedom of association regardless of whether or not they have
ratified the freedom of association Conventions.
Country Information
• Freedom of Association and the Effective Recognition of the Right to Collective Bargaining (pdf, 765KB)
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Publications
• Freedom of Association and the Effective Recognition of the Right to Collective Bargaining (pdf, 765KB)
• Voices for Freedom of Association
• National Case Studies on Freedom of Association
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ILO Conventions and Recommendations
• C11 Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention, 1921
• C84 Right of Association (Non-Metropolitan Territories) Convention, 1947
• C87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948
• C98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949
• C135 Workers' Representatives Convention, 1971
• C141 Rural Workers' Organisations Convention, 1975
• C151 Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention, 1978
• C154 Collective Bargaining Convention, 1981
• R91 Collective Agreements Recommendation, 1951
• R92 Voluntary Conciliation and Arbitration Recommendation, 1951
• R94 Cooperation at the Level of the Undertaking Recommendation, 1952
• R113 Consultation (Industrial and National Levels) Recommendation, 1960
• R129 Communications within the Undertaking Recommendation, 1967
• R130 Examination of Grievances Recommendation, 1967
• R143 Workers' Representatives Recommendation, 1971
• R149 Rural Workers' Organisations Recommendation, 1975
• R159 Labour Relations (Public Service) Recommendation, 1978
• R163 Collective Bargaining Recommendation, 1981
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Other
• Committee on Freedom of Association
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