International Labour Organization

International Labour Organization The ILO was created in 1919, as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I, to reflect the belief that universal and lasting peace can be accomplished only if it is based on social justice. The International Labour Organization is the UN specialized agency which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights. At the end of world war 1, a peace conference was convened which led to the creation of the International Labour Organization in 1919. It became the first specialized agency of the UN in 1946.

International Labour rganization The only tripartite U.N. agency, since 1919 the ILO brings together governments, employers and workers representatives of 187 member States, to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men. The International Labour Organization (ILO) is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace.  The ILO formulates international labour standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations setting minimum standards of basic labour rights: freedom of association, the right to organize, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, equality of opportunity and treatment and other standards regulating conditions across the entire spectrum of work related issues.

Membership The Constitution of ILO provides simple rules of procedure regarding admission of a state to the membership of ILO. The Constitution provides that its membership is open to the states which were its members under the league of nations and such other states which are either original members of the united nations or are admitted to the membership of the united nations by a decision of general assembly in accordance with the provisions of the Charter. Other states can also become members of the ILO by a vote concurred by 2/3 of the delegates attending the session including 2/3 of the government delegates present and voting.

International Labour Conference ILO Governing Body International Labour Office

Main bodies The ILO accomplishes its work through three main bodies which comprise governments', employers' and workers' representatives: The International labour Conference sets the International labour standards and the broad policies of the ILO. It meets annually in Geneva. Often called an international parliament of labour, the Conference is also a forum for discussion of key social and labour questions. The Governing body is the executive council of the ILO. It meets three times a year in Geneva. It takes decisions on ILO policy and establishes the programme and the budget, which it then submits to the Conference for adoption. The International Labour Office is the permanent secretariat of the International Labour Organization. It is the focal point for International Labour Organization's overall activities, which it prepares under the scrutiny of the Governing Body and under the leadership of the Director-General .

Main bodies The work of the Governing Body and of the Office is aided by tripartite committees covering major industries. It is also supported by committees of experts on such matters as vocational training, management development, occupational safety and health, industrial relations, workers’ education, and special problems of women and young workers.  Regional meetings of the ILO member States are held periodically to examine matters of special interest to the regions concerned.

Structure The ILO accomplishes its work through three main bodies – International Labour Conference, the Governing Body and the International Labour Office. They encompass the unique feature of the Organization: its tripartite structure (government, employers and workers). Each member state has four representatives ( 1 worker ; 2 government ; 1 employer) The Conference plays a very important role. It establishes and adopts international labour standards. It acts as a forum where social and labour questions of importance to the entire world are discussed. The Conference also adopts the budget of the Organizations and elects the Governing Body.

Structure Among intergovernmental organizations the ILO is unique in that its approximately 187 member states are represented not only by delegates of their governments but also by delegates of those states’ employers and workers, especially trade unions. National representatives meet annually at the International Labour Conference. The ILO’s executive authority is vested in a 56-member Governing Body, which is elected by the Conference.

Structure The International Labour Office in Geneva, Switzerland, composed of the permanent Secretariat and professional staff, handles day-to-day operations under the supervision of an appointed director general. The ILO has international civil servants and technical-assistance experts working in countries throughout the world. 

International Labour Standards The ILO's standards take the form of international labour Conventions and Recommendations. The ILO's Conventions are international treaties, subject to ratification by ILO member States. Its Recommendations are non-binding instruments -- typically dealing with the same subjects as Conventions -- which set out guidelines which can orient national policy and action. Both forms are intended to have a concrete impact on working conditions and practices in every country of the world.

International Labour Standards  The annual International Labour Conference, as well as other ILO bodies, often agree upon documents less formal than Conventions and Recommendations. These take such forms as codes of conduct, resolutions and declarations. These documents are often intended to have a normative effect but are not referred to as part of the ILO's system of international labour standards.

Tripartism The ILO’ s tripartite mechanism seeks to promote a climate of understanding between workers, employers and governments. Tripartism thus emphasizes the concept of a ‘social partnership’ between them, in the interest of every ILO member. ACTRAV (Bureau for workers activities) ACTEMP (Bureau for employers activities)

Conventions ratified by nepal Convention No. 14 "Weekly (Industry) Rest Convention, 1921 (No. 14) Convention No. 29  Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) Convention No. 98 The Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) Convention No. 100 Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) Convention No. 105 Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) Convention No. 111 Discrimination (Employment and occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) Convention No. 131 Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131) Convention No. 138 Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No 138) Convention No. 144 Tripartite Consultation (Implementation of International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) Convention No. 169 Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169) Convention No. 182 Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)

Collaboration of ilo with the employers council, FNCCI ILO Country Office in Nepal and the Bureau for Employers' Activities (ACT/EMP) of the ILO, a specialized unit within the ILO secretariat have been working closely with the Employers' Council of FNCCI for the past two decades for the capacity building of the employers in Nepal through its Technical Cooperation Programme, which provides assistance to employers' organizations in developing and transition countries.

Collaboration of ilo with the Employers Council, FNCCI The Employers' Council in collaboration with the ILO Country Office and ACT/EMP has been conducting various trainings, workshops, research programs, surveys, interaction programs, seminars, long and short terms project activities and other capacity building programs on industrial relations topics like social dialogue, negotiation, collective bargaining, labour laws, gender issues, OSH, HRM and IRs, workplace cooperation, child labour, green job and other areas of common interest. Two decades long relationship between the FNCCI and ILO has been extremely fruitful in strengthening the tripartite mechanism promoted by the ILO. It has also helped improve the relationship with the trade unions and the government through various levels of social dialogue.

Contributions Works for the improvement of labour conditions and living standards throughout the world Helps to develop and promote labour standards for national legislation to protect and improve working conditions and standards of living. Provides technical assistance in social policy and administration and in workforce training. Fosters cooperative organizations and rural industries. Compiles labour statistics and conducts research on the social problems of international competition, unemployment and underemployment, labour and industrial relations, and technological change (including automation); and helps to protect the rights of international migrants and organized labour.

Contributions Helps member states to maintain minimum labour standards through the adoption of International Labour Standards ( Conventions and recommendations). Supports various programs of the trade unions and employers by providing funds. Support the activities that strengthen and build the capacity of the employers and trade union organizations. Helps promote good labour practices

Contributions Provides technical assistance in the areas of Vocational training and rehabilitation Employment policy Labour administration Labour law and industrial relations Conditions of work Management development Cooperatives Social security Labour statistics OSH

Fundamental conventions The ILO's Governing Body has identified eight conventions as "fundamental", covering subjects that are considered as fundamental principles and rights at work: freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; the effective abolition of child labour; and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Fundamental conventions Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)  Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)  Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)  Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)  Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)  Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)  Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100 ) Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)