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THE THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR INTERNATIONAL LABOUR

ORGANIZATIONORGANIZATION ILO Structure

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HISTORYHISTORY

Created in 1919, as part of the Created in 1919, as part of the Treaty of Versailles Treaty of Versailles Commission of International Labour Commission of International Labour

Legislation (9 countries): Belgium, Legislation (9 countries): Belgium, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, Italy, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, Italy, Japan, Poland, the United Kingdom and Japan, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States.the United States.

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WHY?WHY?

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What is the ILO?What is the ILO?

An Intergovernmental bodyAn Intergovernmental body Is is a specialised agency Is is a specialised agency

“associated” to the UN“associated” to the UN Up to 1945: all UN members were also Up to 1945: all UN members were also

ILO Members automaticallyILO Members automatically After 1945: UN members must to After 1945: UN members must to

accept ILO constitutionaccept ILO constitution Not UN member must to be accepted by Not UN member must to be accepted by

qualified majority of the ILO Conferencequalified majority of the ILO Conference

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The Only TripartiteThe Only TripartiteSpecialized AgencySpecialized Agency

181 Members181 Members All decisions on tripartite basisAll decisions on tripartite basis Each country represented by Each country represented by

Government representativesGovernment representatives Most representative organization of Most representative organization of

workersworkers Most representative organization of Most representative organization of

employersemployers

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ILO StructureILO Structure

International Labour ConferenceInternational Labour Conference Governing BodyGoverning Body International Labour OfficeInternational Labour Office

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INTERNATIONAL LABOUR INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCECONFERENCE

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

Annual – over 4,000 delegatesAnnual – over 4,000 delegates

Each country represented by 2 Govt, 1 Workers, 1 Each country represented by 2 Govt, 1 Workers, 1 Employers (Employers (A RIGHT PROPORTION?)A RIGHT PROPORTION?)

FUNCTIONSFUNCTIONS

Adoption of International standardsAdoption of International standards

Supervision of the application of ratified Supervision of the application of ratified conventionsconventions

Examination of the report of the Director GeneralExamination of the report of the Director General

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GOVERNING BODYGOVERNING BODY

STRUCTURESTRUCTURE

56 members: 56 members:

28 Govts (10 permanent), 14 Workers, 14 28 Govts (10 permanent), 14 Workers, 14 Employers (Employers (PROBLEM OF REPRESENTATIVITYPROBLEM OF REPRESENTATIVITY))

FUNCTIONS FUNCTIONS

Set the agenda of the ILCSet the agenda of the ILC

Select the Director General of the ILOSelect the Director General of the ILO

Draw up the programme and the budget of the Draw up the programme and the budget of the OrganizationOrganization

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INTERNATIONAL LABOUR INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICEOFFICE

StructureStructure Permanent Secretariat of the Organization Permanent Secretariat of the Organization More than 1000 “independent”officials (100 More than 1000 “independent”officials (100

countries)countries) FunctionsFunctions

To Collect and disseminate information on To Collect and disseminate information on LabourLabour

To carry out studiesTo carry out studies To execute technical co-operationTo execute technical co-operation To publish studies and reviewsTo publish studies and reviews To provide secretariat for meetingsTo provide secretariat for meetings

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Keeping in mind that...Keeping in mind that...LABOURLABOUR

IS NOT A COMMODITY !IS NOT A COMMODITY !

THANKUTHANKU

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