Which Global Body Sets Labour Standards and Protects Workers?

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the primary global body that sets labour standards and protects workers' rights around the world. Established in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles, the ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that works to promote social justice and fair labour practices globally. Its main objective is to ensure that all people, regardless of where they live, work in safe conditions, earn a fair wage, and are treated with dignity and respect.

What is the International Labour Organization (ILO)?

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the only United Nations agency that deals with labour issues, specifically international labour standards and the promotion of social protection and rights at work. The ILO brings together governments, employers, and workers to establish policies and programmes that advance social and economic justice.

Key Functions of the ILO

• Setting International Labour Standards: The ILO formulates and oversees international labour standards, which cover a broad range of topics, such as working hours, wages, occupational health and safety, child labour, and discrimination. These standards serve as guidelines for countries to adapt and implement in their national laws.
• Promoting Fair Labour Practices: The ILO advocates for fair wages, decent working conditions, and the protection of workers' rights, aiming to improve living standards globally. It works to eliminate exploitation and abuse, including modern slavery and forced labour.
• Technical Assistance and Capacity Building: The ILO provides technical assistance to governments, employers, and trade unions to help them implement labour standards and policies effectively. This assistance often takes the form of training, research, and guidance on labour law reforms.
• Monitoring and Compliance: The ILO monitors the compliance of its member states with the conventions and recommendations it sets. It assesses the labour practices of countries through reporting systems and ensures that national labour laws align with international standards.

How the ILO Sets Labour Standards

The ILO develops and adopts international labour standards in the form of conventions and recommendations. These instruments are created through a tripartite process, where representatives from governments, employers, and workers’ organizations come together to negotiate and develop these standards.

1. ILO Conventions and Recommendations

• ILO Conventions: Conventions are legally binding international treaties that governments are expected to ratify and incorporate into national law. When a government ratifies a convention, it agrees to implement the provisions of the convention in its own legal framework. For example, the ILO’s Convention No. 87 on the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize ensures that workers can freely form and join trade unions.
• ILO Recommendations: Recommendations are not legally binding but provide guidelines for good practice. They offer advice to governments on how to improve their labour policies in specific areas, such as occupational health and safety or the protection of migrant workers.
• Key Conventions: Some of the key ILO conventions include:
  • Convention No. 138: Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, which establishes the minimum age for employment to prevent child labour.
  • Convention No. 29: Forced Labour, which aims to eliminate forced labour worldwide and protect workers from exploitation.
  • Convention No. 111: Discrimination (Employment and Occupation), which prohibits discrimination based on race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction, or social origin.
  • Convention No. 182: Worst Forms of Child Labour, which seeks to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, including slavery, trafficking, and dangerous work.

2. Tripartite Structure and Consultation Process

• Tripartism: The ILO’s unique structure involves representatives from three groups: governments, employers, and workers. This tripartite model ensures that all sectors of society are involved in the creation and adoption of labour standards, providing a balanced and inclusive approach to labour policy.
• Regular Conferences: The ILO holds an annual International Labour Conference (ILC), where member states, employers’ organizations, and trade unions gather to discuss and adopt conventions and recommendations. This conference is where the ILO’s most important policy decisions are made.

ILO’s Role in Protecting Workers’ Rights

The ILO plays a crucial role in advocating for and protecting workers' rights worldwide, especially in areas where workers face exploitation and abuse. By setting labour standards and promoting decent work, the ILO works to ensure that all individuals can work in conditions that respect their dignity and rights.

1. Addressing Child Labour and Forced Labour

• Child Labour: One of the ILO’s most important missions is to eliminate child labour. Through its conventions, such as Convention No. 138 (Minimum Age for Employment) and Convention No. 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour), the ILO sets international standards for the protection of children from exploitation in the workplace.
• Forced Labour: The ILO’s Convention No. 29 on Forced Labour is a critical instrument in the fight against slavery and human trafficking. The ILO works to eliminate forced labour by providing technical assistance to countries, monitoring compliance with international standards, and promoting awareness of the issue.

2. Promoting Gender Equality in the Workplace

• Gender Equality: The ILO works to eliminate gender-based discrimination in the workplace through conventions like Convention No. 100 on Equal Remuneration and Convention No. 111 on Discrimination (Employment and Occupation). These conventions promote equal pay for equal work, as well as protection against discrimination based on gender, race, religion, or disability.
• Women’s Empowerment: The ILO’s policies encourage the inclusion of women in the workforce and promote measures that enhance women’s economic empowerment, such as improved maternity leave, workplace safety, and equal career advancement opportunities.

3. Ensuring Occupational Health and Safety

• Occupational Health and Safety (OHS): The ILO’s Convention No. 155 on Occupational Safety and Health establishes guidelines for workplace safety, aiming to protect workers from accidents, injuries, and occupational diseases. It also focuses on improving workplace conditions to prevent long-term health issues caused by exposure to hazardous substances.
• Promoting Safe Work Environments: The ILO works with governments and employers to promote workplace safety, providing resources, training, and technical assistance to ensure that industries meet international standards for worker protection.

4. Encouraging Social Protection and Fair Wages

• Social Protection: The ILO advocates for universal social protection systems that provide financial security for workers in times of illness, disability, old age, or unemployment. Through its Social Protection Floors Recommendation No. 202, the ILO promotes systems that ensure access to healthcare, pensions, and other social services.
• Fair Wages and Income: The ILO’s work on fair wages focuses on ensuring that all workers receive decent pay that is sufficient to support themselves and their families. It promotes policies on minimum wage laws and fair pay practices to reduce income inequality and poverty.

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