INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO)

The International Labor Organization was set up on 19th April 1919 against the backdrop of first world war which caused destruction on a massive scale world over. The world peace was no more in sight and the conditions of the working class almost in all countries were appalling.

ILO was born as a result of the peace conference convened at the end of world war 1st at Versailles.

Two organisations were founded. One was League of Nations and other was International Labour Organisation.

India is a founder member and original signatory to the treaty of peace and contributes 2.77% of the ILO budget.

Between the two world wars the ILO was an autonomous part of League of Nations.

During the world war 2nd the ILO moved its headquarters to Montreal Canada temporarily.

In 1946 when the United Nations Organization came into being , the ILO became the first specialist agency of the organization.

In 1969 the organization celebrated its Fiftieth anniversary and was awarded a Noble peace prize.

So far the ILO has passed up to 400 conventions and recommendations providing backbone for the labour legislation of many of the countries including India and has contributed immensely to human rights, social justice and labour welfare.

THOUGHT BEHIND THE FOUNDATION OF THE I.L.O.

In its preamble the ILO constitution declares that universal and lasting peace can be founded only on the basis of social justice.

To achieve this it is necessary to bring governments, employers, and trade unions together for united action in the cause of social justice and better living conditions everywhere.

The ILO symbolizes social justice, universal peace and human dignity.

It is founded to deal with international labour problems.

THE PHILADELPHIA DECLARATION

The International Labor Conference held in Philadelphia in 1944, redefined the organization’s aims and objectives in adopting the Declaration of Philadelphia,

It proclaims the right of all human beings “to pursue both the material wellbeing and their spiritual development in conditions of freedom and dignity, of economic security and equal opportunity.”

It further states that poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere.

Labour is not a commodity.

Freedom of expression and of association are essential to sustained progress.

Whereas the failure of any nation to adopt humane conditions of labour is an obstacle in the way of other nations which desire to improve the conditions in their own countries.

OBJECTIVES OF THE I.L.O.

The objectives of the ILO are enunciated in the preamble to its constitution supplemented by Article 427 of the peace treaty of Versailles as well as the Philadelphia declaration of 1944.

The main objectives of the ILO is to improve conditions of life and work by building a comprehensive code of law and practice.

Thus ILO is a standard setting body. The standards which are laid down through the joint efforts of governments, managements and labour are realistic, solid and widely appreciated.

It also has an International training institute and International institute of labour studies. The ILO engages in research and publishes wide range of labour and social matters.

MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE I.L.O.

The main functions of ILO can be categorised as under,

a)Setting International labour standards or code in relation to industrial safety, occupational health, labour welfare etc. and supervising their observance.

b)Providing technical cooperation for improving social well being and world economies.

c)Research & labour studies and collecting and disseminating information.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CODE

The body of conventions and recommendations adopted by the International Labour Conference constitutes the International Labour Code.

As on 1st January 1992, 172 Conventions and 179 Recommendations have been adopted by the conference.

The international labour Code covers an enormous range of important subjects in the labour and social fields.

The most urgent problems of the time, on which its first decisions were made, included the promotion of the eight hour working day, the struggle against the unemployment, maternity protection, and the working conditions of women and the young.

THE TECHNICAL COOPERATION

The technical cooperation area includes,

a)Man power planning.

b)Choice of technology.

c)Small scale industry development.

d)Assistance in training policies and system.

e)Occupational health and safety.

f)Industrial relations.

WHAT IS A CONVENTION AND

A RECOMMENDATION?

•Each Convention is a legal instrument regulating some aspect of labour administration, social welfare or human rights. Its ratification involves a dual obligation for a member State; it is both a formal commitment to apply the provisions of the Convention, and an indication of willingness to accept a measure of international supervision.

•A Recommendation is similar to a Convention except that it is not subject to ratification, and provides more specific guidelines. Recommendations often, but not always, supplement conventions.