Background of the International Labour Organisation
- Founded in the year 1919, the ILO, has been the only surviving member from the League of Nations set of bodies.
- Created as a part of the Treaty of Versailles, this body reflects the belief that universal and lasting peace is only possible if the world order accomplishes social justice.
- It is now affiliated with the United Nations.
- It has been a strong partner in the globe’s effort to overcome seminal events such as the Great Depression, Apartheid and the like and has also been instrumental in hastening the process of decolonization, and creating world standards for labour rights.
- As a part of its centenary celebrations, ILO has established its Global Commission on the Future of Work in 2019.
Objectives of ILO
- It is a tripartite organisation that is dedicated to promoting social justice and ensuring that human and labour rights are guaranteed to all individuals across the globe.
- ILO’s work agenda seeks to advance socio-economic conditions of all employers, workers and the government to achieve lasting peace, prosperity and progress.
How Does the ILO Work?
- The ILO has three main bodies namely the International labour Conference, which sets the international labour standards and the broad policies of the ILO; the Governing Body which takes decisions regarding the policy, establishes and executes a programme and the budget; and the International Labour Office, which is the focal point of all of ILO’s activities.
- There are numerous expert committees and tripartite committees covering major industries that help the functioning of the ILO.
- ILO even holds regional meetings to deal with concerns of specific regions and resolve the same.
Main Functions
- ILO creates coordinated policies and programs to solve social and labour issues.
- It helps in adoption of international labour standards.
- It assists the member-states in solving social and labour problems.
- It offers human rights protection such as the right to work, freedom of association, collective negotiations, etc. to employees.
- It also does extensive research and prints a number of publications on social and labour issues.
Core Conventions of the ILO
- Forced Labour Convention (No. 29)
- Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No.105)
- Equal Remuneration Convention (No.100)
- Discrimination (Employment Occupation) Convention (No.111)
- Minimum Age Convention (No.138)
- Worst forms of Child Labour Convention (No.182)
- Freedom of Association and Protection of Right to Organised Convention (No.87)
- Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No.98)
Flagship Publications
- World Employment and Social Outlook
- Global Wage Report
- World Social Protection Report
