ILO and International

Labour Standards
Introduction to ILO
Organization of Governments, Employers and
Workers from 187 countries
Mandate to promote social justice through decent
work as a matter of
respect for individual dignity
economic and social development
international peace and stability
ILOs Decent Work Agenda
Decent work - work which does not only provide men or
women a pass-time and a short-term
livelihood, but also rights, i.e. the power to choose and
negotiate accordingly
protection against the uncertainties of (working) life for
workers and their families
participation in the workplace and the wider community
ILO means of action
Setting and supervising the application of International Labour
Standards

Providing technical cooperation to developing countries

Collecting and disseminating information (knowledge)

International Labour Standards
Recommendations:
Not open to ratification

Same authority as Conventions

Contain good practices, guidelines, higher

standards or advice directly addressed to member nations
Conventions (Protocols)

States must consider ratification, but do not have to

ratify
If ratified, they are binding under international law
If not ratified, they still do influence national law
policy
Since 1919, the International Labour Organization has adopted 190 Conventions,
199 Recommendations
fundamental human rights at work
occupational safety and health
social security
employment policy
...
Governing Body has extensively reviewed the
relevance of the all ILS since 1995
The Eight fundamental Conventions
 1. Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) 
2. Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) 
3. Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) 
4. Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) 
5. Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) 
6. Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) 
7. Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) 
8. Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)