THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION AND INTERNATIONAL LABOUR STANDARDS

THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION AND INTERNATIONAL LABOUR STANDARDS INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE OF THE ILO/TURIN

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION ü was founded in 1919 ü is a United Nations specialised agency ü has 185 member States (2012) ü is the only worldwide organization founded on a tripartite structure INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE OF THE ILO/TURIN

ILO OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES ü Universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice ü Labour is not a commodity ü Freedom of expression and association are essential to sustained progress ü All human beings, irrespective of race, creed or sex have the right to pursue both their material well-being and their spiritual development in conditions of […] equal opportunities Preamble to the ILO Constitution / Declaration of Philadelphia INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE OF THE ILO/TURIN

TRIPARTISM ü Tripartism is the active participation of workers and employers, together with governments, in all ILO activities ü The tripartite structure of the ILO enables the representatives of workers and employers to participate on an equal footing with those of governments in all discussion and the process of decision-making INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE OF THE ILO/TURIN

ILO STRUCTURE International Labour Conference 4 delegates per member State 1 workers’ delegate 2 governments delegates 1 employers’ delegate Governing Body 14 workers’ representatives 28 governments representatives 14 employers’ representatives International Labour Office INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE OF THE ILO/TURIN

ILO MEANS OF ACTION Standard-setting activities ü elaboration and adoption of international labour standards ü supervision of member States application of international labour standards Technical cooperation ü promotion of the objectives established by international labour standards INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE OF THE ILO/TURIN

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR STANDARDS (ILS) Conventions ü are international treaties ü when ratified, are legally binding ü if not ratified, represent legal objectives and influence national legislation ü are technical or promotional ü 189 Conventions (2012) Recommandations ü are not open to ratification ü are not legally binding ü provide technical or general guidelines for national policy and practice ü 202 Recommendations (2012) INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE OF THE ILO/TURIN

OTHER ILO INSTRUMENTS ü Declarations ü Resolutions ü Codes of practice INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE OF THE ILO/TURIN

CHARACTERISTICS OF ILS ü Tripartism ü Universality ü Flexibility ü Application subject to an international control INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE OF THE ILO/TURIN

ILO FUNDAMENTAL CONVENTIONS All ILO member States, irrespective of the ratification of these Conventions, have an obligation to respect the principles they set out (ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, 1998) ü Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) ü Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) ü Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) ü Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) ü Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) ü Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) ü Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) ü Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE OF THE ILO/TURIN

RATIFICATION ü is the official commitment by a member State to be bound by the provisions of a Convention under international law ü is a political decision ü cannot involve reservations ü consequences: 1. implementation of the Convention, both in law and in practice 2. exposure to supervisory mechanisms INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE OF THE ILO/TURIN

ILO SYSTEMS OF SUPERVISION regular system of supervision ü based on the ratification of a Convention and a reporting obligation on its application special systems of supervision ü involve cases of specific allegations of violations against a member State INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE OF THE ILO/TURIN

MOST RELEVANT ILO SUPERVISORY BODIES ü Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) ü Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE OF THE ILO/TURIN