What is ILO?

ILO is any acronym for “International Laborcreation of employer’s and employee’s
Organization”, a specialized agency of theorganizations. Within the UN system, the ILO has a
United Nations. ILO was established in 1919 (the endunique tripartite structure with workers and
of World War I) by the Treaty of Versailles, whichemployers participating as equal partners with
brought the League of Nations into being. The needgovernments in the work of its governing organs.
for such an organization had been advocated in theAt present, the ILO's work is organized into four
nineteenth century by two industrialists: Robertthematic groupings or sectors: (1) Standards and
Owen (1771-1853) of Wales and Daniel Legrandfundamental principles and rights at work; (2)
(1783-1859) of France. Despite the demise of theEmployment; (3) Social Protection; and (4) Social
League of Nations, after the Second World War, ILODialogue.
became the specialized agency of the United Nations:How ILO Work:
League of Nations’ successor. ILO’sTo proceeds its operation, the organization is
Constitution was adopted by the Peace Conferenceconstituted of:
in April of 1919. In the summer of 1920, The ILO was1. a General Conference of representatives of the
set up in Geneva, Switzerland. ILO received NobleMembers (or International Labour Conference). The
Peace Prize in 1969.Conference is hosted by ILO in Geneva every year
The ILO formulates international labour standards inin June. At the Conference, Conventions and
the form of Conventions and RecommendationsRecommendations are crafted and adopted by
setting minimum standards of basic labour rights:majority decision. The Conference also makes
freedom of association, the right to organize,decisions on the ILO's general policy, work
collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour,programme and budget. Each member state is
equality of opportunity and treatment, and otherrepresented at the International Labour Conference
standards regulating conditions across the entireby four delegates: two government delegates, an
spectrum of work related issues.employer delegate and a worker delegate.
It provides technical assistance primarily in the fields2. ILO’s Governing Body consisted of fifty-six
of: vocational training and vocational rehabilitation;persons: twenty-eight representing governments;
employment policy; labour administration; labour lawfourteen representing the employers; and fourteen
and industrial relations; working conditions;representing the workers.
management development; cooperatives; social3. An International Labour Office controlled by the
security; labour statistics and occupational safety andGoverning Body.
health. ILO also supports technical assistance to the