1. ILO What it is and what it does?
Programme for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV)
International Training Center of ILO

2. 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 ILO has 183 Member States.

3. ILO The ILO & Tripartism
It is a tripartite organisation in that it brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers as equal partners to jointly shape policies and programmes.
ILO

4. 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

5. Mandate & Functions of the ILO
The ILO is a specialized UN agency which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights
Standard-setting: elaborate, adopt & promote ILS and supervise their implementation
Provides technical assistance
Promotes the development of independent workers’ and employers’ organisations and provides training and advisory services to those organisations.
Fosters tripartism

6. Standard Setting International Labour Standards (ILS)
Conventions
Recommendations
Adoption by the Conference
Application at national level
(through legislation and practice)

7. ILS: Conventions and Recommendations
International treaties
Legally binding, when ratified
If not ratified, are sources of inspiration for national law and practices
188 Conventions as of today
RECOMMENDATIONS
Not open to ratification
Not legally binding
Provide general or technical guidelines for national action
200 Recommendations as of today

8. Core Conventions
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 Organisation

9. Priority Conventions 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

10. Characteristics of ILS
Universal  set at the world level
Flexible  set respecting the needs of all ILO Member States
Tripartite  expression of international tripartite agreements
Minimum protection  fix minimum level of protection
International supervision  Their application is subject to an international control

11. 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

12. 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

13. International Labour Conference International Labour Office
The ILO Structure
International Labour Conference
Governing Body
International Labour Office

14. 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 programme and budget.
ICFTU, WCL, WFTU and OATUU have full consultative status with the ILO.

15. 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) and 66 deputy (28 G, 19 E and 19 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.

16. 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

17. 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 programmes of the ILO and its technical units to trade unions.
Reflect interests of trade unions in programmes and actions of the ILO.
Support workers’ representatives in ILO’s decision making bodies.
Educate and train trade union leaders/activists/staff.

18. 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

19. Thank you for your attention!
Programme for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV)
ITC-ILO