What is International Labour Organization (ILO)?

1. ILO is the Parliament of World Labour:- ILO is an international body and the Parliament of World
Labour. It adopts International Labour Standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations
which are collectively called as IL Standards, or IL Code.

2. ILO is a Tripartite Body: ILO is a tripartite body consisting of the representatives of not only the
Governments of Member countries, but also the Unions of Employers and Workers who form the
delegate groups of that country in the proportional ratio of 2:1:1 respectively. It is like a platform
structured, on the pillows of equanimity permitting workers' representatives to sit and discuss on the same
table along with the representatives of the Government and the employers. In other words, ILO facilitates
equal importance in the role to be played by the three parties to the industrial relations and productive
activities, namely, Government, Employers and Workers.

3. ILO is the First International Body dealing with Labour:-ILO is the first international body working for
the overall development of the workers of the world. It had been awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace
Prize in 1967.

4. Objective of ILO is improvement of world economy: The objective of the ILO is to assure overall
development of working class of the world through standard setting and economic development of
member countries, as a means to improve world economy. All the programs of the ILO are aimed at
reducing the socio-economic disparities between the rich, developing and underdeveloped States.

Aims of the ILO:- The principal aim of the ILO is the welfare of labour. According to Article 427 of the
Peace Treaty as incorporated in the Preamble of the ILO Constitution, ILO is established for the well-
being physical and intellectual of the industrial wage earners.

The first part of the Annexure to the ILO Constitution relating to the Declaration concerning the Aims
and Purposes of the ILO, reads as follows:

The General Conference of the ILO at its twenty-sixth Session held in Philadelphia, hereby adopted, the
Philadelphia Declaration which includes the aims and purposes of the ILO and the principles which
should inspire the policy of its Members. This Declaration under the Annex consists of five parts. Part I
of it deals with the reaffirmation of the fundamental principles of the ILO on which the Organisation is
based. Part II of it deals with the affirmation of the Statement in the Constitution. Part III thereof deals
with the solemn obligations of the ILO. Part IV of the Annex deals with the fuller utilization of the
world's productive resources necessary for the achievement of the objectives set forth in the Philadelphia
Declaration. The last part, i.e., Part V of the Annex deals with the affirmation of the applicability of all
principles set forth in the Philadelphia Declaration to all peoples everywhere, etc.

In view of the above discussion it can be clear that the primary aim of the ILO is establishment of world
peace based upon social justice by assuring the well being of the workers physical as well as intellectual.
Objectives of the ILO: As already discussed above, the following are the objectives of the ILO as
incorporated in its Preamble and as supplemented by the Peace Treaty of 1919, and as referred to under
the Philadelphia Declaration of 1944:

(1) Establishment of peace and social justice.

(2) Improvement of labour welfare, protection of labour and regulation of working conditions.

(3) Prevention of unemployment and regulation of labour supply,

(4) Adequate living wage, social security, protection of woman, children and young persons.

(5) Protection of migrated workers, recommendation of equal work,and

(6) Right of association and organization of vocational and technical training.

Similarly, Part III of the Annex to the Constitution of ILO contemplates ten specific objectives of the
ILO, namely:

(1) Full employment and raising standard of living,

(2) Employment in interested field to use full skills for latest contribution,

(3) Facilities for training and migration of employment.

(4) Policy on wages, convincing hours of work and maximum living wages to all.

(5) Recognition of right of collective bargaing, and good industrial relations for more production.

(6) Extension of social security measures, basic income and medical care.

(7) Protection for the life and health of workers in all occupations.

(8) Provision for adequate nutrition, housing, recreation and culture.

(9) Provision for child welfare and magnetic protection.

(10) The assurance of equality of educational and vocational opportunity.

Principles of the ILO:- The following are the four particular principles of the ILO, as reaffirmed by the
Philadelphia Conference of 1944 under the Philadelphia Declaration, on which the ILO is based:

(a) Labour is not a commodity;

(b) Freedom of expression and of association are essential to sustained progress;

(c) Poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere;

Powers and Functions of International Labour

Having discussed the powers and functions of the three important organs of the ILO, it would be pertinent
now to discuss the powers and functions of the International Labour Organization, as such aasa whole. In
fact, the powers and functions of each of the said three organs of the ILO are the collective powers and
functions of the ILO. Thus, to sum up, the following are the important powers and functions of the ILO as
a whole:

1. Legislative Powers and Functions: The following are the Legislative Powers of the ILO

1) Enactment, of Labour Code consisting of Conventions and Recommendations.

2) Amendment of the provisions of the Constitution of ILO.
3) Budget allocation and arrangements

2. Executive Powers and Functions: The following are some of the important executive powers of the
ILO:

(1) Execution of all policies and programmes

(2) Communication of Conventions and Recommendations as adopted by the ILC to the member States
for ratification, and obtaining ratifications or explanations for non-ratification of the same.

(3) Admission, re-admission, suspension and removal of members

(4) Extension of Technical Assistance to the deserving member countries in the form of money,
manpower/experts/equipment including assistance in framing of the national laws and policies relating to
labour and employment.

(5) Enforcement of the ratified Conventions and to initiate appropriate action in case of failure to adhere
to the ratified conventions by the member countries.

(6) Seeking the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice as and when appropriate.

(7) Appointment of Committees, Sub-Committees, including Regional Offices.

(8) Convening Regional Conferences and ordering to undertake surveys on labour and employment
matters.

(9) Planning and programming for the development of the developing and underdeveloped countries.

(10) Imparting training and educational facilities to the workers and employers.

(11) Protection of Basic Human Rights of workers.

(12) Extending research and publications on the labour and employment as a store-house of literature.
3. Other Powers and Functions:- (1) Settlement of disputes between the member countries, if any, in
relation to the breach of conventions, etc.

(2) Maintenance of relations and undertaking collaborative activities with the UNO and its other Organs
and Bodies.

(3) Entering into contracts with any Institution/Body/Organization, national or international.

(4) Acquiring and disposal of property.

Other Functions

• It adopts international labour standards. They are adopted in the form of conventions. It also
controls the implementation of its conventions.
• It aids the member states in resolving their social and labour problems.
• It advocates and works for the protection of Human rights.
• It is responsible for the research and publication of information regarding social and labour
issues.

Structure

The basis of the ILO is the tripartite principle. The ILO comprises the International Labour Conference,
the Governing Body, and the International Labour Office.

International Labour Conference:

The International Labour Conference (ILC)/General Conference(GC) is the important organ of the ILO
and the supreme law making body. It adopts International Labour Standards in the form of Conventions
and Recommendations. It is the Parliament of World Labour and policy making authority of the ILO. It
has to perform many functions and have got the requisite powers and functions as contemplated under the
Constitution of the ILO.

Composition:- All the members of the ILO are the members of the Conference. Each member is entitled
to send four Delegates as its representatives in the ratio of 2:1:1, that is to say, two representing the
Government side, one representing the employers and the other one the employees/workers side. Each
delegate can be accompanied by the permissible number of advisers, additional advisers nominated
advisors

• The progressive policies of the ILO are set by the International Labour Conference.
• The Conference is an annual event, which happens in Geneva, Switzerland. The conference
brings together all the representatives of the ILO.
• Function: It is a panel for the review of the important issues regarding labour.
Governing Body:

Governing Body is the Executive Organ of the ILO. It is the Second Important Organ of the ILO acting as
an intermediary between the International Labour Conference and the International Labour Office. It is
also a tripartite body representing Governments, Employers and Workers' Groups. ILO without the
Governing Body is like a State without Government. According to Johnston, Governing Body is the
Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Control Tower, Power House and Arch-stone of the ILO. The
following discussion deals with the composition, powers and functions of the ILO:

Composition: As contemplated in Article 7 of the ILO Constitution, the Governing Body of the ILO shall
consist of fifty-six persons, in the following manner:

(i) Twenty-eight representing governments, of which ten shall be from member countries of Chief
Industrial Importance, and

(ii) Fourteen representing the employers, and fourteen representing the workers.

• The Governing Body is the executive body of the International Labour Organization.
• The governing body meets in Geneva. It meets three times annually.
• The Office is the secretariat of the Organization.
• It is composed of 56 titular members, and 66 deputy members.

Functions:

• Makes decisions regarding the agenda and the policies of the International Labour Conference.
• It adopts the draft Programme and Budget of the Organization for submission to the Conference.
• Election of the Director-General.

International Labour Office:

• It is the permanent secretariat of the International Labour Organization.

• Functions: It decides the activities for ILO and is supervised by the Governing Body and the
Director-General.
• The ILO member States hold periodically regional meetings to discuss the relevant issues of the
concerned regions.
• Each of the ILO's 183 Member States has the right to send four delegates to the Conference: two
from government and one each representing workers and employers, each of whom may speak
and vote independently.
Tripartism

Tripartism is defined in the ILO Thesaurus as "the interaction of government, employers and workers
(through their representatives) as equal and independent partners to seek solutions to issues of common
concern".

According to Black’s law dictionary, Tripartite is a term applied to an indenture to which there are three
parties (of the first, second, and third parts), and which is executed in triplicate. Tripartism is an
organizational framework of labour relations in which the government, employee trade union, and
employer’s association collaborate to pursue shared interests and engage in mutually beneficial decisions
to create a win-win situation for all engaged. It is a vital component of the industrial relations setup in
India. Tripartism helped resolve labor-management conflicts, and fostered positivelabour-management
relations. Tripartism aims to resolve labour disputes by putting governments, businesses, and employees
on a similar path. It assures that all three parties will take part in the conflict resolution procedure.

Participation of workers' representatives (trade unions), employers' representatives (business

organizations), and government representatives (labour ministry, regulatory bodies, etc.) ensure that all
three primary actors are represented in the dispute resolution process.

PURPOSE OF TRIPARTITE BODY:

a) To those who have suffered parties together to resolve their disputes amicably, and promote
cooperation and goodwill.

b) To promote uniformity in labour regulations and legislation.

c) Discuss any issues about employers and employees that are important to India.

d) To determine a plan for settlement of disputes.

e) to discourage individual members from individual contributing to meetings and to push for regular
gatherings of government, labour, and employer representatives.