Concerned with both economic and social aspects of development, the International Labour Organization (ILO)is one of the specialized agencies that predates the United Nations, established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles. Its long and diverse work in the setting and monitoring of labor standards in the workplace has provided the framework of international labor standards and guidelines that have been adopted in national legislation in virtually all countries as well. The ILO is guided by the principle that social stability and integration can be sustained only if they are based on social justice, particularly the right to employment with fair compensation in a healthy workplace. Over the decades, the ILO has helped to create such hallmarks of industrial society as the eight-hour day, maternity protection, child-labor laws, and a whole range of policies that promote peaceful industrial relations and safety in the workplace.

The ILO programme and budget sets out four strategic objectives for the ILO at the turn of the century:

- To promote and realize fundamental principles and rights at work

- To create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment and income

- To enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all

- To strengthen tripartism and social dialogue

Specifically, the ILO engages in: (1) the formulation of international policies and programs to promote basic human rights, improve working and living conditions, and enhance employment opportunities; (2) the creation of international labor standards--backed by a unique system to supervise their application--to serve as guidelines for national authorities in putting sound labor policies into practice; (3) an extensive program of technical cooperation, formulated and carried out in partnership with beneficiaries, to help countries make these policies effective; and (4) training, education, research, and information activities to help advance all these efforts.

One of ILO's most important functions is the adoption by the tripartite International Labour Conference--made up of Government, employer, and worker representatives--of Conventions and Recommendations that set international standards. Through ratification by member states, Conventions create binging obligations to put their provisions into effect. Recommendations provide guidance on policy, legislation and practice. Over the years, the Governments of member states and their employers' and workers' organizations have built up a system of international standards in all work-related matters. Some 184 Conventions and 192 Recommendations have been adopted on work-related matters. They cover basic human rights, labor administration, industrial relations, employment policy, working conditions social security, occupational safety and health, employment of women, children and special categories.

ILO assistance to efforts at job creation has been made more urgent by the steady rise in poverty linked to unemployment and underemployment during the last decade. ILO provides research, analysis and advice to assist policy-makers and tripartite constituents to make the right choices and formulate optimal strategies in the effort to create more and better jobs.

ILO's technical cooperation focuses on support for democratization, poverty alleviation through employment creation, and the protection of workers. In particular, ILO helps countries to develop their legislation and take practical steps towards implementing ILO standards, for instance, by developing occupational health and safety departments, social security systems and worker education programs.

Opportunities for study and training are offered at the International Training Centre in Turin, Italy. The means of action of ILO's International Institute for Labour Studies include research networks; social policy forums; courses and seminars; visiting scholar and internship programs; and publications. On its 50th anniversary in 1969, ILO was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

COMPOSITION

177 member countries: Islamic State of Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Republic of Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

STRUCTURE

The International Labour Conference is the supreme body of the ILO, responsible for the formulation of international standards of working and living conditions, which are embodied in international labor conventions and recommendations which it has adopted. It normally meets once a year. The Conference is composed of national delegations, each comprising two government delegates, one employers' delegate, and one workers' delegate. The Conference elects the Governing Body and adopts the budget.

The Governing Body is the organization's executive council, normally meeting three or four times a year to decide policy and programs. It is composed of 56 members, of which 28 are government members, 14 are employers' members, and 14 are workers' members. Ten of the government seats are reserved for the "states of chief industrial importance," i.e., Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The remaining 18 government seats are elected from among the other member countries every three years. Among its functions are the general supervision of the International Labour Office; the formulation of policies and programs; the guidance of the various committees and other bodies; and the appointment of the Director-General.

The International Labour Office functions as the Secretariat of the organization. It is headed by the Director-General, who is also the Secretary General of the Conference.

Other ILO bodies include regional conferences and industrial committees.

GENERAL PUBLICATIONS