The International Labour and Employment Relations Association (ILERA) was established in 1966 and its general purpose is to promote the study of labour and employment relations throughout the world in the relevant academic disciplines, by such means as:
- encouraging the establishment and development of national associations of industrial relations specialists;
- facilitating the spread of information about significant developments in research and education in the field of industrial relations;
- organising worldwide and regional congresses;
- and promoting internationally planned research, by organising study groups on particular topics.
Today the Association has over 1,000 members worldwide including prominent industrial relations scholars and practitioners and national associations in 34 countries.
An ILERA World Congress is convened every 3 years, where professionals interested in all aspects of labour and employment relations meet to share ideas about new developments, ideas and practices in the field. This year the 16th Ilera World Congress took place in Philadelphia, USA from 2 to 5 July. The general theme of the Congress was "Beyond Borders: Governance of Work in the Global Economy". The papers presented at the Congress and the rapporteur reports have been published. The next ILERA World Congress will take place in Cape Town, South Africa in 2015.
ILERA also organizes, through its national affiliates, regional congresses. The 10th European Regional Congress will take place in Amsterdam, The Netherlands from 20 to 22 June 2013 "Imagining new employment relations and new solidarities" and the 8th Asian Regional Congress will be held at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Melbourne, Australia from 9 to 12 April 2013 under the theme "Work and Employment in the Asian Century". In 2014, the Colombian Asociacion de Relaciones de Trabajo will organize the 8th Regional Congress of the Americas.
New to ILERA is the Luis Aparicio Prize. Luis Aparicio Valdez was ILERA’s President during 2003-2006 and in this role was the host of the 10th World Congress in Lima in 2006. Sadly, he became quite ill during 2006 as he battled a series of ailments including cancer. Despite this, Luis Aparicio led a team of dedicated colleagues who staged a very successful Congress. He passed away shortly after the 6th Regional Congress of the Americas held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in September 2008. The family of Luis Aparicio, his friends and colleagues have established the Luis Aparicio Prize to honour his contributions to ILERA and to the practice, study and teaching of labour and industrial relations. On the occasion of the 16th World Congress, Philadelphia, USA, the first Luis Aparicio Prize was awarded to Dr. Mark Anner of the Pennsylvania State University. The selection committee decided to reward Dr. Mark Anner for his research on labour reponses to globalization in the auto and apparel industries, corporate social responsibility and labour law reform and enforcement in Latin America.
ILERA also has 15 study groups that anybody who wishes so can join by contacting the coordinators directly.
The aim of the ILERA is of a purely scientific character, without regard to political, philosophic or religious considerations. The Association does not endorse opinions on policy questions.
The Association is located in the Industrial and Employment Relations Department of the International Labour Office in Geneva, Switzerland.
Send your comments and corrections to: ilera@ilo.org
