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Introduction to the ILO

The document provides an overview of the International Labour Organization (ILO): 1) The ILO promotes opportunities for men and women to obtain decent work through standards and technical assistance to member states. 2) It has a tripartite structure involving governments, employers, and workers in setting policies and has a mandate to promote fundamental labor rights and standards. 3) The ILO was established in 1919 and provides technical assistance to implement its goal of decent work worldwide.

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INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE ILO WELCOME TO
MAIN MENU ILO Introduction Structure Mandate What it is and what it does History Standards-related activities Objectives Member States Field structure
Mandate The International Labour Organization (ILO) has the following mission: To promote opportunities for men and women to obtain decent and productive work , in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity, which is summed up by the expression “ Decent work as a global goal ”.
What the ILO is and what it does The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations system which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights. The ILO formulates international labour standards . These standards take the form of Conventions and Recommendations, which set minimum standards in the field of fundamental labour rights: freedom of association, the right to organize, the right to collective bargaining, the abolition of forced labour, equality of opportunity and treatment, as well as other standards addressing conditions spanning across the entire spectrum of work-related issues.
What the ILO is and what it does The ILO provides technical assistance, mainly in the following fields: • vocational training and vocational rehabilitation; • employment policy; • labour administration; • labour law and industrial relations; • conditions of work; • management development; • cooperatives; • social security; • labour statistics, and occupational safety & health.
HISTORY How the ILO came into being The ILO was created in response to the consciousness that followed the First World War at the Peace Conference, which convened first in Paris and then in Versailles. The ILO is the only major surviving outcome of the Treaty of Versailles . The International Labour Organization (ILO) was founded, along with the League of Nations, by the Treaty of Versailles on 11 April 1919.
HISTORY How the ILO came into being The ILO was also based on political and economic considerations. These ideas were reflected in the ILO Constitution . The ILO was founded primarily in response to humanitarian concern over the condition of workers who were being exploited with no consideration for their health, their family lives or their professional and social advancement.
The ILO Constitution “ WHEREAS UNIVERSAL AND LASTING PEACE CAN BE ESTABLISHED ONLY IF IT IS BASED UPON SOCIAL JUSTICE…” Preamble Full text of the Constitution here
Brief description of the ILO Towards the end of the Second World War, the ILO adopted the Declaration of Philadelphia to reflect its philosophy and fundamental principles, as well as to broaden its aims and purposes. The Declaration was adopted by the ILO in 1944 and is the equivalent of what an organization commonly refers to as its mission . In 1946, the ILO became the first specialized agency associated with the newly formed United Nations, following the dissolution of the League of Nations . On its 50th anniversary in 1969, the ILO was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize .
Declaration of Philadelphia (1944) “ The General Conference of the International Labour Organisation, meeting in its Twenty-sixth Session in Philadelphia, hereby adopts, this tenth day of May in the year nineteen hundred and forty-four, the present Declaration of the aims and purposes of the International Labour Organisation and of the principles which should inspire the policy of its Members. The Conference reaffirms the fundamental principles on which the Organisation is based and, in particular, that: labour is not a commodity; freedom of expression and of association are essential to sustained progress; poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere; the war against want requires to be carried on with unrelenting vigour within each nation…with a view to the promotion of the common welfare.”
STRUCTURE How the ILO works International LabourConference Governing Body International Labour Office ILO Comprises
International Labour Conference (ILC) The ILC meets in June every year, in Geneva, and is the highest authority of the ILO. It sets minimum international labour standards and defines the broad policies of the Organization. Every two years, the Conference adopts the ILO’s biennial work programme and budget, which is financed by member States . The ILC also provides an international forum for the discussion of world labour and social problems. The ILC elects the Governing Body of the ILO. One Employer representative Two Government representatives One Worker representative International Labour Conference Each member State has four representatives
List of ILO Member States Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Timor-Leste Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Lesotho Liberia Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Moldova, Republic of Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Fiji Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People’s Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti
Governing Body The Governing Body is the executive council of the ILO which establishes the strategic objectives and policies. The Governing Body meets three times a year in Geneva and makes decisions on ILO policy and establishes the programme and budget, which it subsequently submits to the Conference for adoption. The Governing Body also elects the Director-General for a five-year renewable term. The ten States of chief industrial importance have permanent seats on the Governing Body, while the other members are elected at the Conference every three years from representatives of the other member countries, taking into account geographical distribution. Employers and workers elect their own representatives independently of one another. 14 Employer representatives 28 Government representatives 14 Worker representatives Governing Body
Tripartite structure of the ILO The ILO has a tripartite structure unique in the United Nations system, in which employers’ and workers’ representatives – the “social partners” – have an equal voice with those of governments in shaping its policies and programmes. ILO Employers Workers Governments
Tripartism The ILO’s tripartite mechanisms seek to promote a climate of understanding between workers, employers and governments. Tripartism thus emphasizes the concept of a “social partnership” between them, in the interests of every ILO member State. ACTRAV The mandate of the Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) is to strengthen representative, independent and democratic trade unions, to enable them to play their role effectively in protecting workers’ rights and interests and in providing effective services to their members at national and international levels. ACTEMP The strengthening of employers’ organizations is a key element in consolidating the ILO’s principle of tripartism. The activities carried out with employers’ organizations, in addition to encouraging their participation in the ILO’s fields of action, contribute to enhancing the environment in which enterprises are developed.
ILO SPHERE OF ACTIVITY RESEARCH – INFORMATION – MEETINGS Workers Employers Governments ILO DECENT WORK Social justice TECHNICAL COOPERATION STANDARDS-RELATED ACTIVITIES
STANDARDS-RELATED ACTIVITIES International labour standards (ILS) Subjects addressed by the ILO’s ILS International labour standards respond to a growing number of needs and challenges experienced by workers and employers in the globalized economy. The following subjects are covered by international labour standards: Wages Working time Occupational safety and health Social security Maternity protection Social policy Migrant workers Seafarers Fishers Dock workers Indigenous and tribal peoples Other specific categories of workers Freedom of association Collective bargaining Forced labour Child labour Equality of opportunity and treatment Tripartite consultation Labour administration Labour inspection Employment policy Employment promotion Vocational guidance and training Employment security
What are international labour standards? International labour standards are legal instruments drawn up by the ILO’s constituents (governments, employers and workers) which set out basic principles and rights at work. In many cases, a Convention lays down the basic principles to be implemented by ratifying countries, while a related Recommendation supplements the Convention by providing more detailed guidelines on its implementation. Binding means mandatory as soon as a country has ratified a Convention and integrated it into national law. CONVENTIONS These are legally binding international treaties that are subject to ratification by member States. RECOMMENDATIONS These serve as non-binding guidelines. They can also be autonomous, namely not linked a Convention. ILS are divided into :
The ILO’s fundamental Conventions The ILO’s Governing Body has identified eight “ fundamental ” Conventions. These principles are also covered by the ILO Declaration on FundamentalPrinciples and Rights at Work (1998). In 1995, the ILO launched a campaign for the universal ratification of these eight Conventions. There are currently over 1,200 ratifications, representing 86% of the possible number of ratifications.
The ILO’s fundamental Conventions These cover subjects considered to be fundamental principles and rights at work: Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
Priority Conventions The ILO’s Governing Body has also designated another four Conventions as “priority” instruments, thereby encouraging member States to ratify them because of their importance for the functioning of the international labour standards system. Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) Conventions, Recommendations, ratifications and much more can be found in the ILOLEX database. The ILO publication The rules of the game: A brief introduction to international labour standards also contains relevant information.
How an international labour standard is adopted A problem is identified The Governing Body puts the subject on the agenda of the International Labour Conference The Office prepares a law and practice report with a questionnaire on the content of a possible new instrument The report is sent to governments, employers and workers for their comments The Office analyzes the comments and prepares its proposed conclusions The Office prepares a report containing a summary of the discussion and the proposed instrument The report is sent to governments, employers and workers for their comments The Office prepares a revised draft of the instrument The instrument is adopted by the Conference with a 2/3-majority vote W E G First discussion of the proposed conclusions at the Conference W E G Second discussion of the proposed instrument at the Conference
Technical cooperation Since the early 1950s, the ILO has been providing technical assistance to countries on all continents and at all stages of economic development. In the last decade, an average of some US $ 130 million has been spent annually on technical cooperation projects. These projects are implemented through close cooperation between recipient countries, donors and the ILO. The overall purpose of ILO technical cooperation is the implementation of the Decent Work Agenda at the national level, by assisting constituents in making this goal a reality for everyone. In order to achieve this, the ILO has an extensive network of offices throughout the world which provide technical guidance on policy issues and assistance in the design and implementation of development programmes.
Technical cooperation These programmes currently focus on the areas covered by the Organization’s four strategic objectives: the promotion of fundamental rights at work, the creation of decent employment for men and women, the strengthening of social protection and the promotion of tripartism and social dialogue. Technical cooperation is one of the ILO’s chief means of action, a decisive instrument for the implementation of the principle of decent work at the national policy level. Technical cooperation activities involve technical and training advisory services based on the specific needs and objectives of each country. Technical cooperation programmes or projects can be: TECHNICAL COOPERATION Global Regional Interregional National Multilateral
OBJECTIVES Decent work as a global goal 4.c. Development of social dialogue at the sectoral level 4.b. Governments and institutions of social dialogue 3.b. Effective labour protection 2.b. Employment creation 1.b. Standards-related activities 4.a. Strengthened social partners 3.a. Enhanced social security coverage 2.a. Employment, labour markets, skills and employability 1.a. Fundamental principles and rights at work Operational objectives 4. To strengthen tripartism and social dialogue 3. To enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all 2. To create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment and income 1. To promote and realize standards and fundamental principles and rights at work Strategic objectives
International Labour Office The International Labour Office in Geneva is the Organization’s secretariat and also acts as its operational headquarters, research centre and publishing house. It implements activities related to the objectives and policies emanating from Governing Body decisions. Administration and management are decentralized to regional offices for the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Arab States, and through subregional and/or country offices within each region. See organization chart The Office also acts as a research and documentation centre; as a publishing house, it produces a wide range of specialized studies, reports and periodicals.
Headquarters Juan Somavia is Chilean and an attorney by profession. Juan Somavia was elected to serve as the ninth Director-General of the International Labour Office by the Governing Body on 23 March 1998. His five-year term of office began on 4 March 1999, when he became the first representative from the Southern hemisphere to head the Organization. In March 2003, Mr Somavia was re-elected for a second five-year term. The ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland The Office employs some 1,900 officials of more than one hundred nationalities at its Geneva headquarters and in forty offices throughout the world. In addition, some 600 experts carry out missions under the technical cooperation programme.
International labour standards and fundamental principles and rights at work (Sector 1) Decent employment and income ( Sector 2) Social protection for all (Sector 3) Tripartism and social dialogue ( Sector 4) ILO sectors for implementing the strategic objectives ILO
SECTOR 1 International labour standards and fundamental principles and rights at work Strategic objectives and sectors This objective corresponds to the ILO’s role in promoting and monitoring the implementation of labour standards. In this regard, the ILO has eight fundamental Conventions and seeks to achieve their universal ratification, namely their adoption by all countries throughout the world.
SECTOR 2 Decent employment and income Strategic objectives and sectors There is a divide between those in the world who have poor-quality jobs – or no jobs at all – and those in decent employment. The employment of young people and women is a priority for the ILO. The Organization develops programmes for worker training, enterprise creation and poverty reduction.
SECTOR 3 Social protection for all Strategic objectives and sectors The ILO understands that workers and their families need social protection. In this area, the Organization is committed to promoting a campaign on social protection and coverage for all, which includes subjects such as occupational safety and health, conditions of work, migration and strategies to combat HIV/AIDS in the world of work.
SECTOR 4 Tripartism and social dialogue Strategic objectives and sectors The Organization is tripartite, meaning that governments, workers and employers are its constituents. The ILO therefore has a special interest in strengthening the organizations representing these groups, so that they can increase their involvement in the development of policies that affect the world of work at the national and international levels.
ILO field structure The field structure includes a regional office for each continent, as well as subregional offices, country offices and research centres. The chart below shows a breakdown of the field structure in the Americas; for a breakdown of other continents click here . HEADQUARTERS AFRICA AMERICAS ASIA ARAB STATES EUROPE LIMA ABIDJAN BANGKOK BEIRUT GENEVA San José Santiago Port-of-Spain CINTERFOR Legend HEADQUARTERS Regional office Subregional office Brazil Argentina Mexico CINTERFOR Country office Research centre
Other reference material ILO information leaflet Brochure The ILO at a glance The ILO: What it is, what it does What we do Origins and history ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up ILO Constitution and the Declaration concerning the aims and purposes of the International Labour Organization Decent work – the heart of social progress Photo Gallery