International Labour Organization (ILO)

What is ILO?
The International Labor Organization (ILO) is devoted to advancing opportunities for women
and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and
human dignity. Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment
opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue in handling work-related
issues. It is the only tripartite U.N. agency, since 1919 the ILO brings together governments,
employers and workers representatives of 187 member States, to set labor standards, develop
policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.

International Labour Code:

One of the principal functions of the ILO is setting international labour standards through the
adoption of conventions and recommendations covering a broad spectrum of labour-related
subjects and which, together, are sometimes referred to as the International Labour Code. The
topics covered include a wide range of issues, from freedom of association to health and
safety at work, working conditions in the maritime sector, night work, discrimination, child
labour, and forced labour. The term “code” is somewhat a misnomer in so far as adoption of
new standards and revision of old ones has not resulted in an entirely integrated and
homogeneous body of law. This is not the case. Nevertheless, the broad scope of the subjects
covered by the ILO’s standards suggests that the term “code” would be appropriate to use.

How the ILO works:

• Tripartism and social dialogue: Underlying the ILO’s work is the importance of
cooperation between governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations in
fostering social and economic progress. The ILO aims to ensure that it serves the
needs of working women and men by bringing together governments, employers and
workers to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes. The very
structure of the ILO, where workers and employers together have an equal voice with
governments in its deliberations, shows social dialogue in action. It ensures that the
views of the social partners are closely reflected in ILO labour standards, policies and
programmes. The ILO encourages this tripartism within its
constituents employers , workers and member States , by promoting a social
dialogue between trade unions and employers in formulating, and where appropriate,
implementing national policy on social, economic, and many other issues.

• Main bodies/ organs: The ILO accomplishes its work through three main bodies
which comprise governments', employers' and workers' representatives:
❖ International labour Conference sets the International labour standards and the
broad policies of the ILO. It meets annually in Geneva. Often called an
international parliament of labour, the Conference is also a forum for discussion of
key social and labour questions.
❖ Governing body is the executive council of the ILO. It meets three times a year in
Geneva. It takes decisions on ILO policy and establishes the programme and the
budget, which it then submits to the Conference for adoption.
❖ International Labour Office is the permanent secretariat of the International
Labour Organization. It is the focal point for International Labour Organization's
 overall activities, which it prepares under the scrutiny of the Governing Body and
under the leadership of the Director-General.

The work of the Governing Body and of the Office is aided by tripartite committees covering
major industries. It is also supported by committees of experts on such matters as vocational
training, management development, occupational safety and health, industrial relations,
workers’ education, and special problems of women and young workers. Regional
meetings of the ILO member States are held periodically to examine matters of special
interest to the regions concerned.

• Standards supervisory system: International labour standards are backed by a

supervisory system that helps to ensure that countries implement the conventions they
ratify. International labour standards are backed by a supervisory system that is unique at
the international level and that helps to ensure that countries implement the conventions
they ratify. The ILO regularly examines the application of standards in member states and
points out areas where they could be better applied. If there are any problems in the
application of standards, the ILO seeks to assist countries through social dialogue and
technical assistance.

The ILO has developed various means of supervising the application of Conventions and
Recommendations in law and practice following their adoption by the International Labour
Conference and their ratification by States. There are two kinds of supervisory mechanism

• Partnering for development: Since the early 1950s, the ILO has been providing technical
cooperation to countries on all continents and at all stages of economic development.
Projects are implemented through close cooperation between recipient countries, donors,
and the ILO, which maintains a network of country offices worldwide. Development
cooperation builds bridges between the ILO’s standard-setting role and women and men
everywhere. It is essential to give people decent work opportunities and an important
means of assisting our constituents – workers, employers and governments – in making the
Decent Work Agenda a reality. Simply put, development cooperation supports the
technical, organizational and institutional capacities of ILO constituents for them to put in
place meaningful and coherent social policy and ensure sustainable development.

With over 50 years of experience in development cooperation on all continents and at all
stages of development, the ILO today has over 600 programmes and projects in more than
100 countries – with the support of 120 development partners.

• Programme and budget: The Programme and Budget of the Organization which sets out
the strategic objectives and expected outcomes for the Organization’s work is approved
every two years by the International Labour Conference.

Origins and history:

The ILO was created in 1919, as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I, to
reflect the belief that universal and lasting peace can be accomplished only if it is based on
social justice. The driving forces for ILO's creation arose from security, humanitarian,
political and economic considerations. Summarizing them, the ILO Constitution's Preamble
says the High Contracting Parties were 'moved by sentiments of justice and humanity as well
as by the desire to secure the permanent peace of the world...'
There was keen appreciation of the importance of social justice in securing peace, against a
background of exploitation of workers in the industrializing nations of that time. There was
also increasing understanding of the world's economic interdependence and the need for
cooperation to obtain similarity of working conditions in countries competing for markets.
Reflecting these ideas, the Preamble states:

• Whereas universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social
justice;
• And whereas conditions of labour exist involving such injustice hardship and
privation to large numbers of people as to produce unrest so great that the peace and
harmony of the world are imperilled; and an improvement of those conditions is
urgently required;
• Whereas also the failure of any nation to adopt humane conditions of labour is an
obstacle in the way of other nations which desire to improve the conditions in their
own countries.
The areas of improvement listed in the Preamble remain relevant today, for example:

• Regulation of the hours of work including the establishment of a maximum working

day and week;
• Regulation of labour supply, prevention of unemployment and provision of an
adequate living wage;
• Protection of the worker against sickness, disease and injury arising out of his
employment;
• Protection of children, young persons and women;
• Provision for old age and injury, protection of the interests of workers when employed
in countries other than their own;
• Recognition of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value;
• Recognition of the principle of freedom of association;
• Organization of vocational and technical education, and other measures.

ILO mission and objectives:

The organisation’s main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment
opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.
These aims are described in detail in the ILO’s four strategic objectives:

1. Promote and realise standards and fundamental principles and rights at work;

2. Create greater opportunities for women and men to decent employment and income;

3. Enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all;

4. Strengthen tripartism and social dialogue.

These aims and objectives are implemented through:

1. Formulation of international policies and programmes to promote basic human rights,

improve working and living conditions, and enhance employment opportunities;
 2. Creation of international labour standards backed by a unique system to supervise their
application;

3. An extensive programme of international technical cooperation formulated and

implemented in an active partnership with constituents, to help countries put these policies
into practice in an effective manner;

4. Training, education and research activities to help advance all of these efforts .
Conventions:
Through July 2011, the ILO has adopted 189 conventions. If these conventions are ratified by
enough governments, they become in force. However, ILO conventions are
considered international labour standards regardless of ratifications. When a convention
comes into force, it creates a legal obligation for ratifying nations to apply its provisions.
Every year the International Labour Conference's Committee on the Application of Standards
examines a number of alleged breaches of international labour standards. Governments are
required to submit reports detailing their compliance with the obligations of the conventions
they have ratified. Conventions that have not been ratified by member states have the same
legal force as do recommendations.

The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work , adopted in 1998 and
amended in 2022, is an expression of commitment by governments, employers' and workers'
organizations to uphold basic human values - values that are vital to our social and economic
lives. It affirms the obligations and commitments that are inherent in membership of the ILO,
namely:

1. freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective

bargaining;
2. the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour;
3. the effective abolition of child labour;
4. the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation; and
5. a safe and healthy working environment.

The ILO asserts that its members have an obligation to work towards fully respecting these
principles, embodied in relevant ILO Conventions. The ILO Conventions which embody the
fundamental principles have now been ratified by most member states. This commitment is
supported by a Follow-up procedure.