The International Labour Organization (ILO) was established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League of Nations. After the end of the Second World War, in 1947, the United Nations (UN) replaced the League of Nations (LN or LoN).
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, ILO is the only tripartite U.N. agency. ILO’s Parent Organization: Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, ILO is the only tripartite U.N. agency. ILO’s Parent Organization: Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
It brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 member States, to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.
The 187-member states of ILO comprise 186 of the 193 UN member states plus the Cook Islands are members of the ILO
ILO received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969 for improving peace among classes, pursuing decent work and justice for workers and providing technical assistance to other developing nations.
The International Labour Conference, often referred to as an International Parliament of Labour, sets the International labour standards and the broad policies of the ILO. It meets annually in Geneva.
The Governing Body is the executive council of the ILO meets 3 times a year in Geneva.
India is a founding member of the ILO and it has been a permanent member of the ILO Governing Body since 1922. In India, the first ILO Office was started in 1928.
India has ratified six out of the eight-core/fundamental ILO conventions. These conventions are:
- 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)
India has not ratified the two core/fundamental conventions, namely:
- Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) and
- Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).
The ILO registers complaints against entities that are violating international rules; however, it does not impose sanctions on governments.
