International Labour Standards

One of the ILO’s oldest and most important functions is the adoption by the tripartite (governments-employers-workers) International Labour Conference of Conventions and Recommendations which set international standards. Through ratifications by member States, Conventions are intended to create binding obligations to put their provisions into effect. Recommendations provide guidance on policy, legislation and practice.

ILO Conventions and Recommendations cover a wide range of issues in the world of work, including certain basic human rights (notably freedom of association, the right to organize and bargain collectively, the abolition of forced labour, and the elimination of discrimination in employment), labour administration, industrial relations, employment policy, working conditions, social security, occupational safety and health, employment of women, employment of children, and employment of special categories such as migrant workers and seafearers.

Each member State is required to submit all Conventions and Recommendations adopted by the Conference to the competent national authorities for a decision as to the action to be taken on them. Nearly 6,000 international commitments have so far been made in regard to these conventions. The ILO has established a supervisory procedure to ensure their application in law and practice which is the most advanced of such international procedures. It is based on the objective evaluation by independent experts of the manner in which obligations are complied with and on examination of cases by the Organisation’s tripartite bodies. There is a special procedure to investigate complaints of infringements of freedom of association.

DECENT EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME

Productive, freely-chosen employment is at the core of the ILO's mandate. Without productive employment, achieving decent living standards, social and economic development and personal fulfillment remain illusory. Globalization has brought both prosperity and inequalities, testing the limits of our collective responsibility. Even so, the Organization remains committed to achieving full employment worldwide.

The ILO's mission is to help people around the world find decent work - in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. It does this through permanent contact with workers, employers and governments - the Organization's constituents - helping forge new and innovative employment, labour market and training policies.

Concern for the social costs of globalization increases the need for better international coordination of macroeconomic policies that can diminish its harmful consequences. The ILO is committed to providing research, analysis and advice to its constituents as well as such stakeholders as banking, investment, trade and enterprise development specialists, and business managers on how to create decent work. This includes promoting small enterprises, micro-finance, and effective training systems.

• Equipping constituents to analyse economic and labour market developments and elaborate negotiate effective employment promotion policies and programmes on the global and regional level
• Boosting employment through small enterprise development
• Helping women get more and better jobs
• Effectively implementing policies and programmes upgrading informal sector activities
• Advising in the transition from centrally planned to market economies, particularly with respect to employment, labour market and human resource policies
• Adopting or strengthening targeted programmes enabling groups such as young workers, the disabled migrants and indigenous populations to find decent employment.