International Labour Organization (ILO)

About International Labour Organization (ILO):

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) dedicated to improving labour conditions and living standards throughout the world.
• History:
  • It 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.
  • In 1946, the ILO became a specialized agency of the newly formed UN.
• HQ: Geneva,
• It is also a member of the United Nations Development Group (UNDP), a coalition of UN organization aimed at helping meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Members: The ILO has 187 member states: 186 out of 193 UN member states plus the Cook Islands.
• Structure: It is the only tripartite U.N. agency that brings together governments, employers and workers’ representatives of 187-member States.
• It serves its tripartite constituents and society as a whole in a variety of ways, including:
  • Formulation of international policies and programmes to promote basic human rights, improve working and living conditions, and enhance employment opportunities
  • Creation of international labour standards backed by a unique system to supervise their application
  • An extensive programme of international technical cooperation formulated and implemented in an active partnership with constituents, to help countries put these policies into practice in an effective manner
  • Training, education, and research activities to help advance all of these efforts
• In recognition of its activities, the ILO was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1969.