ILO What it is and what it does? Program for Workers’ Education International Training Centre of ILO

History of the ILO The ILO was founded in 1919. It is the only surviving major creation of the Treaty of Versailles, which brought the League of Nations into being. The ILO became the first specialized agency of the UN in 1946. The only worldwide tripartite organization The ILO has 185 Member States.

Mandate Seeks the promotion of social justice, internationally recognized human and labour rights and Decent Work for All. Decent Work is ILO’s key policy direction and the goal is to: - Create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment and income - Promote and realize international labour standards, fundamental principles and rights at work - Extend coverage and effectives of social protection for all - Strengthen tripartism and social dialogue

Fundamental Goal of ILO SOCIAL JUSTICE PREAMBLE“Universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice” Better Working Conditions Technical Co-operation Standard Setting Tripartite System Meetings - Information - Research - Expertise

Structure International Labour Conference (ILC) held in every June in Geneva ILO Governing Body held in March, June and October International Labour Office as the Secretariat

International Labour Conference Meet every year in Geneva in June; Each member State is represented by two G delegates, one E delegate & one W delegate, plus advisers. Main Tasks: Discuss (in Committee) and adopt (in Plenary) international labour standards, and supervise their application; Elect Governing Body; Admit a new Member; Pass resolutions which provide guidelines for the ILO's general policy and future activities; Adopt every two years the ILO's biennial work program and budget. ITUC, WFTU and OATUU have full consultative status with the ILO

Governing Body of ILO The executive body of the ILO Composition Meets three times a year (in March, June and November); Takes decisions on ILO policy; Decides the agenda of the Conference; and Elects the Director-General. Composition 56 titular (28 G, 14 E and 14 W); Ten of the titular government seats are permanently held by States of chief industrial importance (Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States); and The Employer and Worker members are elected in their individual capacity; and GB Election is held every three years.

International Labour Office The Headquarters is in Geneva The Regional Offices (RO) Sub-Regional Offices (SRO) The Area Offices (AO) International Training Center of ILO

Roles of ACTRAV ACTRAV is the link between the International Labour Office and one of its key stakeholders: the trade union movement. Disseminate policies and programs of the ILO and its technical units to trade unions. Reflect interests of trade unions in programs and actions of the ILO. Support workers’ representatives in ILO’s decision making bodies. Educate and train trade union leaders/activists/staff.

Structure of ACTRAV Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ILO/ACTRAV-Geneva) Overall policy/strategy making Liaison with other unit Support for Workers’ Group Reflection of workers’ interests ILO/ACTRAV-Turin (International Training Center of the ILO) Field Specialists (RO, SRO and AO) Why do we have to have well-established trade unions? - Trade unions are “the building blocks of democracy”; - Trade unions are “training schools for democracy”; and - Trade unions are “the crucial partners in tripartism”. What do we have to do? - “Capacity Building” : Strengthening trade unions’ ability to train members and to build strong organizations; - “Policy Development” : Helping the unions to deal with new issues Direct contact with unions Implementation of ACTRAV policies and strategies in each country Dissemination of information Implementation of training policies and programmes

ILO’s Principles Universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice; Labour is not a commodity to be traded in the same way as goods, services or capital, and that human dignity demands equality of treatment and fairness in dealing with the workplace; Freedom of expression and association are essential to sustained progress; 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.

Tripartism ILO

What is Tripartism? Tripartism is the active participation of workers and employers, together with governments, in all ILO activities; 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.

Tripartism: How it works? Active Interaction in order to seek joint solutions Partners must be willing to reach, and respect, agreements Partners must be committed, competent and active

ILO’s Means of Action Standard Setting Activities Elaboration & adoption of ILS Supervision of member States’ application of ILS Technical Cooperation Promotion of the objectives established by the ILS Knowledge Development and Dissemination Undertake a range of research activities and publish the findings Publication Books, Manuals, Journals, Campaign Materials, etc.

What the Reasons for ILS? Improve the living and working conditions of workers Consolidate social peace Equalize conditions for international competition Preamble to the ILO Constitution,1919

What are ILS? CONVENTIONS International treaties When ratified are legally binding If not ratified, are sources of inspiration for national law and policies 189 Conventions RECOMMENDATIONS Not open to ratification Not legally binding Provide general or technical guidelines for national action 203 Recommendations PROTOCOLS Partially revise connections 6 Protocols

The ILO Protocols P081 – Protocol of 1995 to the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 P089 – Protocol of 1990 to the Night Work (Women) Convention (Revised), 1948 P110 – Protocol of 1982 to the Plantations Convention, 1958 P147 – Protocol of 1996 to the Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976 P155 – Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 P029 – Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention 1930

Other Legal ILO Instruments Declarations Resolutions Codes of Practice

Characteristics of ILS TRIPARTITE Are the fruit of a tripartite consensus UNIVERSAL Are set at the world level FLEXIBLE Take into account the needs of all member States (Art. 19, para. 3 ILO Constitution)

Subjects Covered by ILS Freedom of association, collective bargaining and industrial relations Forced labour Elimination of child labour and protection of children and young persons Equality of opportunity and treatment Tripartite consultation Labour administration and inspection Employment policy and promotion Vocational guidance and training Employment security Social policy Wages Working time Occupational safety and health Social security Maternity protection Migrant workers Seafarers Fishers Dockworkers Indigenous and tribal peoples Specific categories of workers

ILO Core Conventions FOA Forced Labour Child Labour Equality C87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, 1948 C98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, 1949 C29 Forced Labour, 1930 C105 Abolition of Forced Labour, 1957 C138 Minimum Age, 1973 C182 Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 C100 Equal Remuneration, 1951 C111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation), 1958 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, 1998 All ILO Member States, even if they have not ratified the fundamental Conventions, have an obligation to respect, promote and realize the fundamental rights and principles at work, because of their membership in the Organization These rights are universal, and that they apply to all people in all States, regardless of the level of economic development ILO member States that have not ratify one or more of the core Conventions are asked each year to report on the status of the relevant rights and principles, noting impediments to ratification, and areas where assistance may be required FOA Forced Labour Child Labour Equality

ILO Governance Conventions Labour Inspection C81 Labour Inspection, 1947 C129 Labour Inspection (Agriculture), 1969 C122 Employment Policy, 1964 C144 Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards), 1976 ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, 2008 These Conventions are significant from the viewpoint of governance Employment Policy Tripartite Consultation

How are ILS created? Problem identified  Item put on the ILC Agenda (by GB or ILC with 2/3 majority) Item discussed at the ILC - once (SINGLE DISCUSSION) - twice (DOUBLE DISCUSSION) Instrument adopted with a 2/3 majority of delegates present at the ILC

Adoption Process GOVERNING BODY Participation CONFERENCE ITEM Suggestions from governments, workers, employers, ILO Office, UN agencies, etc. GOVERNING BODY Participation CONFERENCE ITEM OFFICE: 1st Report Governments Consultation OFFICE: 2nd Report Governments Consultation TRIPARTITE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE First discussion Participation OFFICE: 3rd Report Governments Consultation OFFICE: 4th Report Governments Consultation TRIPARTITE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Second discussion Participation CONFERENCE PLENARY Adoption Participation

Standard Setting Items for 2014 & 2015 YEAR ILC AGENDA ITEMS 2014 Supplementing the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), to address implementation gaps to advance prevention, protection and compensation measures, to effectively achieve the elimination of forced labour (single discussion) Facilitating transitions from the informal to the formal economy (double discussion): first discussion 2015 Facilitating transitions from the informal to the formal economy (double discussion): second discussion www.itcilo.org International Training Centre of the ILO

Submission of ILS A Constitutional obligation (Art. 19(5-7) of the ILO Constitutions WHAT: all newly adopted ILS WHEN: within 12 or, exceptionally, 18 months following the adoption TO WHOM: national authorities with power to legislate

Ratification of ILO Conventions Formal commitment by a member State to give effect, in law and in practice, to the provisions of a Convention Exposure to international control on the application Reservations not allowed “Initial” entry into force generally, 12 months after registration of the second ratification Entry into force concerning each ratifying country 12 months after registration of the ratification “Pure” denunciations Are permitted every 10 years, following the initial entry into force of the Convention “Automatic” denunciations Result form the ratification of a Convention revising an earlier one Fundamental Conventions Close to universal ratification What next? Follow up to Cartier Committee “Since 1996, 125 new ratifications of revised Conventions and 244 denunciations of corresponding older Conventions have been registered.” Implications for reporting Implications for technical cooperation by the ILO

All involve, directly or indirectly, the social partners How are ILS Supervised? REGULAR SYSTEM OF SUPERVISION Based on the obligation to report on the application of each ratified Convention (Art. 22 ILO Constitution) SPECIAL SYSTEMS OF SUPERVISION Involve cases of specific allegations of violation by a Member State All involve, directly or indirectly, the social partners

Reporting Cycle 3-YEAR CYCLE (3-YEAR CYCLE FROM 2012) 5-YEAR CYCLE C87 Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, 1948 C98 Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, 1949 C29 Forced Labour, 1930 C105 Abolition of Forced Labour, 1957 C138 Minimum Age, 1973 C182 Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 C100 Equal Remuneration, 1951 C111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation), 1958 C144 Tripartite Consultation, 1976 C122 Employment Policy, 1964 C81 Labour Inspection, 1947 C129 Labour Inspection (Agriculture), 1969 5-YEAR CYCLE Other Conventions NOTE: CYCLES CAN BE ALTERED! Fundamental Governance

Contd.: Bodies Involved STEP 1: COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE APPLICATION OF CONVENTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (CEACR) November/December each year Independent, technical analysis STEP 2: CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON THE APPLICATION OF STANDARDS June year after Tripartite discussion

Contd.: CEACR Comments OBSERVATIONS Serious or long-standing cases of failure to comply with ratified Conventions Cases of progress  Published in the CEACR Report DIRECT REQUESTS Matters of secondary importance or technical questions Sent to governments and social partners

Contd.: CEACR Report PART 1 General Report PART 2 Observations concerning particular countries PART 3 General Survey (as a separate volume)

Regular Supervision: Procedure GOVERNMENTS SUBMIT REPORTS ON RATIFIED CONVENTIONS EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS MAY COMMENT COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS REVIEWS REPORTS, COMMENTS AND RELATED DOCUMENTS SENDS DIRECT REQUEST TO GOVERNMENT, AND EMPLOYERS’ AND WORKERS’ ORGANIZATIONS PUBLISHES AN OBSERVATION IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT OR CONFERENCE DISCUSSES AND ADOPTS THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE’S REPORT IN PLENARY G W E TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE AT THE CONFERENCE THE REPORT AND A SELECTION OF OBSERVATIONS

International Training Centre of the ILO Special Procedures CONSTITUTIONAL PROCEDURES Representations (Art. 24 ILO Constitution) Complaints (Art. 26 ILO Constitution) Of general application, for any ratified Convention FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION PROCEDURES For infringements of trade union rights www.itcilo.org International Training Centre of the ILO

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