ILO in India
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Postal stamp released to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the International Labour Organization
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The ILO's tripartite structure makes it unique among the UN organizations. In the ILO, both the employers' and the workers' representatives have an equal voice with those of the governments in shaping its policies and programmes, resulting in meaningful cooperation amongst the social partners. India fully subscribes to tripartism and has long established tripartite bodies such as the Indian Labour Conference, the Standing Labour Committee and various industrial committees. One of the main function of the ILO is adoption of International Labour Standards in the form of international labour Conventions and Recommendations.
The ILO in India, was established in 1919, after the First World War, following the Treaty of Versailles. India, though not yet an independent country, was one of the founding members of the ILO and has been a permanent member of the ILO Governing Body( 1 ) since 1922. The need for the ILO to maintain close contact with member States prompted the establishment of branch offices and national correspondents in some of the more important industrial countries. One of the earliest branch offices of the ILO was set up in Delhi in November 1928. This branch office eventually became an area office, covering a wider range of activities and issues, on April 1, 1970.
In 2002, the Area Office and the Multidisciplinary Team were integrated. In 2003 the Country Office became a Subregional Office for South Asia, covering Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Islamic Republic of Iran, Pakistan, Sri Lanka including India.
As reiterated by the Indian delegation at the 13th Asian Regional Meeting (ARM), the current ILO's work programme places employment generation at the forefront of its programmes, in view of the persistence of unemployment and the progressive informalization of the economy. The Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for the period 2006-2009 formulated in consultation with the tripartite constituents as a follow-up to the conclusions of the 13th ARM has incorporated this perspective. The 14th ARM recently held in Busan, Republic of Korea in August-September 2006, took a note of the progress made by the countries on formulation and implementation of DWCPs.
| In the final analysis it is human being that counts-that individual whom you wish to grow in freedom and creative-spirit and at the same time in material prosperity.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India addressing the Fourth Asian
Regional Conference of the ILO in New Delhi on 13 November 1957. |
The common aims and ideals of the ILO and India are highlighted by their Constitutions. One has only to read the luminous Preamble to the Constitution of India, along with its Part III relating to Fundamental Rights and Part IV relating to Directive Principles of State Policy, side by side with the Preamble to the Constitution of the ILO and the Philadelphia Declaration, to recognize the common approach both have towards the problems of humankind. Social justice, humane conditions of work, right to work, equality of treatment, living wage, social security and the like within a framework of human rights and freedom of association are the recurring themes of both the documents.
| Constitution of India |
Constitution of ILO |
| Preamble..... to secure to all citizens: Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expressions, belief faith and worship; Equality of Status and opportunity; and to promote among them all; Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual. |
Preamble..... Whereas universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice;.... right to pursue their material well-being and their spiritual development in conditions of freedom and dignity of economic security and equal opportunity...... assurance of equality of educational and vocational opportunity. |
Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, then President of India, speaking on the release of a commemorative stamp on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the International Labour Organization and the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Philadelphia said:
The Constitution of the ILO and the Declaration of Philadelphia have as their
objectives social justice, equality of treatment between men and women workers,
ensuring a living wage and the social security of workers. These are indeed
laudable aims which we, in India, have tried to secure through various constitutional
and legislative mechanisms.
Concern for the welfare of workers has been a recurring theme in India. Our Founding Fathers sought to build a polity sustained by law in which the basic rights of the human being were guaranteed.
Note 1 - Governing Body Members from India:
- Ms. Sudha Pillai, Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Labour
Member (Government), ILO Governing Body
- Mr. N. M. Adyanthaya
Member (Workers), ILO Governing Body - Mr. I.P. Anand
Deputy Member (Employers), ILO Governing Body
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