The International Labour Organization
All countries are facing problems in responding to the challenges of the emerging global economy.
There is unprecedented prosperity for many, accompanied by deepening uncertainties for all.
Many people, and their families, are deeply concerned about their personal futures in this swirling
process of global change. Exclusion, inequality and regional disparities go hand in hand with
expanding aspirations and demographic pressures. Faced with this situation, there is, everywhere,
a common desire and a common hope. Women and men seek decent work - work which will respect their
individuality and dignity; provide them with sustenance; ensure provision for the uncertainties of
employment, health and old age; and give their lives social meaning and identity. This is why the
ILO conceives its primary role today as one of promoting opportunities for all people to obtain
decent and productive work. Director General, J. SOMAVIA, 19th May 2001.
Introduction.
Structure.
Objectives.
Programmes and activities.
Introduction.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the UN specialized agency which seeks the promotion of
social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights. It was founded in 1919 and is
the only surviving major creation of the Treaty of Versailles. It became the first specialized agency
of the UN in 1946. For more information on the ILO history, click here.
The International Labour organization (ILO) is built on the constitutional principle that universal
and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice. The ILO has generated
such hallmarks of industrial society as the eight-hours working day, maternity protection, child
labour laws, and a range of policies which promote workplace safety and peaceful industrial relations.
Moreover the ILO is also based upon the constitutional principle according to which "The failure of
any nation to adopt humane conditions of labour is an obstacle in the way of the other nations to
improve the conditions in their own countries."
The ILO formulates international labour standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations
setting universal minimum standards of basic labour rights: freedom of association, the right to
organize, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, equality of opportunity and treatment,...
It also provides technical assistance primarily in the fields of vocational training and promotes
the development of independent employers' and workers' organizations.
The legal aspects of these
documents are available on the ILOLEX website.
Structure.
Within the UN system, the ILO has a unique tripartite structure with workers and employers participating
as equal partners with governments in the work of its governing bodies. The ILO accomplishes its work
through three main bodies, all of which encompass the unique feature of the Organization: its tripartite
structure (government, employers and workers). Due to this particular structure which permits to bridge
micro and macro economics, the ILO is today one of the best instruments to tackle the various challenges
resulting from the globalization process and the need for global governance.
1. International Labour Conference: The member States of the ILO meet at the International Labour
Conference in June of each year, in Geneva. Each of the
182 member States is represented by two government
delegates, an employer delegate and a worker delegate. It is generally the Ministers responsible
for labour affairs who head the delegations. Nevertheless, employer and worker delegates can express
themselves and vote according to decisions taken by their own organizations. The Conference establishes
and adopts international labour standards. It acts as a forum where social and labour questions of importance
to the entire world are discussed. The Conference also elects the Governing Body.
2. The Governing Body is the executive council of the ILO and meets three times a year in Geneva.
It takes decisions on the ILO's policy, establishes its budget and programme of work and elects the Director-General.
It is composed of 28 government members, 14 employer members and 14 worker members. Ten of the government
seats are permanently held by States of chief industrial importance. Representatives of other member
countries are elected at the Conference every three years, taking into account geographical distribution.
The employers and workers elect their own representatives respectively.
3. The International Labour Office is the permanent secretariat of the International Labour
Organization and focal point for the overall activities carried out under the scrutiny of the
Governing Body and under the leadership of the Director- General who is elected for a five-year renewable
term. The Office employs some 1,900 officials of over 110 nationalities at the Geneva headquarters and in
40 field offices around the world. In addition, some 600 experts undertake missions in all regions of the
world under the programme of technical cooperation. The Office has a research and documentation centre and
a printing house issuing a broad range of specialized studies, reports and periodicals.
Objectives.
Since 1919, Conventions and Recommendations have been adopted covering practically all issues relating to
the world of work. The ratifications of these Conventions by the member States have continued to increase
in number. The ILO has established a supervisory procedure to ensure their application in law and practice,
based on objective evaluation by independent experts and on evaluation by the ILO tripartite body. There
is also a special procedure to investigate complaints of infringement of freedom of association.
The ILO has four principal strategic objectives : to promote and realize standards and fundamental
principles and rights at work, to create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment,
to enhance the coverage and the effectiveness of social protection for all and to strengthen tripartism and
social dialogue. These objectives are realized by the creation of international labour standards, the
formulation of international policies and programmes to promote basic human rights at work and to improve working
conditions, as well as through an extensive programme of international technical cooperation designed to help
countries in making these policies effective in practice and, finally, via training, education, research and
publications.
The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work has been adopted in 1998.
The key ILO Conventions concern: forced labour (n°29 of 1930 and n°105 of 1957), freedom of association
(n°87 of 1948 and n°98 of 1949), discrimination (n°100 of 1951 and n°111 of 1958) and child labour
(n°138 of 1973 and n°182 of 1999).
Programmes and Activities.
The ILO maintains a strong worldwide network of technical cooperation programmes pertaining to its wide range
of activities. A complete list of these activities
and programmes may be found by clicking.
In order to support, sustain and develop them, the ILO has built up its capacity for research and
training notably through the creation of the
International Institute for Labour Studies, the
International Training Centre
in Torino (Italy). Further important instruments in this regard are the ILO library
(LABORDOC)
and other databases,...
In March 2002, the Governing Body of the ILO has launched the
World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization.
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