International Labour Standards relevant to work and young persons
Labour legislation and regulations based on International Labour Standards (ILS) are critical to provide pathways for decent work for young people. In June 2005, the International Labour Conference acknowledged that while most ILS are applicable to young persons, some are particularly important. This is either because they set out basic conditions required for the creation of good quality jobs or because they contain youth-specific provisions. ILS cover the key issues of educational capacity, enhancing employability, entrepreneurship and the creation of productive jobs for young people. They also lay down important provisions on how young people enter the work force and on their conditions of employment such as minimum age of admission to employment, pay, working time, night work and medical examinations, occupational safety and health, and labour inspection.
International Labour Standards consist of Conventions and Recommendations. Together these instruments provide practical guidance for countries seeking to facilitate young people’s full and productive integration into the labour market. International labour Conventions are international treaties, subject to ratification by ILO member States. Recommendations are non-binding instruments that set out guidelines helping to orient national policy and action.
Countries that have ratified Conventions report periodically on progress made. The ILO’s supervisory machinery examines these reports and identifies areas for improvement, if necessary. Through technical cooperation, the ILO supports countries in strengthening their capacities in this regard.
Freedom of association, collective bargaining and industrial relations
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)
Workers’ Representatives Convention (No. 135) and Recommendation (No. 143), 1971
Forced labour
Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
Forced Labour (Indirect Compulsion) Recommendation, 1930 (No. 35)
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
Elimination of child labour and protection of children and young persons
Minimum Age Convention (No. 138) and Recommendation (No. 146), 1973
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182) and Recommendation (No. 190), 1999
Medical Examination of Young Persons (Industry) Convention, 1946 (No. 77)
Medical Examination of Young Persons (Non-Industrial Occupations) Convention, 1946 (No. 78)
Medical Examination of Young Persons Recommendation, 1946 (No. 79)
Equality of opportunity and treatment
Equal Remuneration Convention (No. 100) and Recommendation (No. 90), 1951
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (No. 111) and Recommendation (No. 111), 1958
Labour inspection and administration
Labour Inspection Convention (No. 81) and Recommendation (No. 81), 1947
Protocol of 1995 to the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81)
Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention (No. 129) and Recommendation (No. 133), 1969
Labour Administration Convention (No. 150) and Recommendation (No. 158), 1978
Employment policy and promotion
Employment Policy Convention (No. 122) and Recommendation (No. 122), 1964
Employment Policy (Supplementary Provisions) Recommendation (No. 169), 1984
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention (No. 159) and Recommendation (No. 168), 1983
Private Employment Agencies Convention (No. 181) and Recommendation (No. 188), 1997
Employment Service Convention (No. 88) and Recommendation (No. 83), 1948
Job Creation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Recommendation, 1998 (No. 189)
Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation, 2002 (No. 193)
Vocational guidance and training
Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142)
Human Resources Development Recommendation, 2004 (No. 195)
Wages
Protection of Wages Convention (No. 95) and Recommendation (No. 85), 1949
Minimum Wage Fixing Convention (No. 131) and Recommendation (No. 135), 1970
Working time
Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, 1919 (No. 1)
Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1930 (No. 30)
Night Work Convention (No. 171) and Recommendation (No. 178), 1990
Part-Time Work Convention (No. 175) and Recommendation (No. 182), 1994
Occupational safety and health
Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 155) and Recommendation (No. 164), 1981
Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155)
Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention (No. 184) and Recommendation (No. 192), 2001
Social security
Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102)
Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment Convention (No. 168) and Recommendation (No. 176), 1988
Maternity protection
Maternity Protection Convention (No. 183) and Recommendation (No. 191), 2000
Migrant workers
Migration for Employment Convention (Revised) (No. 97) and Recommendation (Revised) (No. 86), 1949
Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1975 (No. 143)
Migrant Workers Recommendation, 1975 (No. 151)
Indigenous and tribal peoples
Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169)