Report of the INTUC / ILO / ACTRAV National Trade Union Conference on Ratification of ILO Core Conventions

The INTUC supported by ILO/ACTRAV convened a national conference in New Delhi from 24 to 26 August 2010, involving AITUC, BMS, CITU, HMS, INTUC and other social partners to discuss the urgent need for ratification of core Conventions.

The objectives of the conference were to exert greater pressure and positively influence the ratification of the core Conventions. The aim was also to reach a consensus on priorities for action in terms of ratification campaigns, achieve appropriate changes in policy, legislation and other forms of regulation, implementation and procedures.

The conference served as a spring board for the ILO and the national trade unions to push the agenda of ratification of Conventions Nos 87 and 98 forward by discussing the difficulties and modalities and to find a way forward towards the ratification at the earliest possible time. Short presentations on relevant experience in understanding labour market reforms in response to globalization were made during the conference. Very useful discussions took place during the conference resulting in the commitment of the Government of India towards early ratification of Convention No. 138 and Convention No. 182 besides the positive response by the government to move in the direction of ratification of Convention No. 87 and Convention No. 98.