The International Labour Organization
Career Readiness
Workers’ Rights
1.8 min
Updated Jan. 31, 2024
The International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN). It emerged as part of the Treaty of Versailles (1919) that ended World War I and became a part of the United Nations in 1946. The ILO has always aimed to promote workers' rights, encourage meaningful employment, enhance worker protections, and amplify worker voices. When articulating its mission, the ILO states, “[We are] devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labor rights, pursuing [our] founding mission that social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace.” The association exists as a key advocate for fair work practices and has become a global authority in the matter.
CORE CONTENT | 1.6 min read
Global & National Impact
Despite the UN's lack of direct jurisdiction over specific countries, its influence over national policy is apparent. The guidelines and recommendations set forth by the ILO, along with the international dialogue that it fosters, serve as a guiding framework. A notable example of ILO action is the 1998 adoption of the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Amended in 2022 to include a safe workplace provision, this declaration outlines five "basic human values" that exist at the core of social and economic issues. States that are members of the ILO commit to upholding these values in their own legislations and practices:
- Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining
- The elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor
- The effective abolition of child labor
- The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation
- A safe and healthy working environment
Day-to-Day Operations
ILO operations do not stop at high-level advocacy. The ILO holds numerous conventions every year. On a day-to-day basis, the organization works in research, data collection, strategy development and implementation, and reporting. There is also an element of providing aid, training, and advisement to member countries. The role of the ILO is far from static; it evolves alongside the labor market it works to improve. As new worker needs and values emerge, the ILO moves to uplift them. Conversely, as threats to worker autonomy materialize, they aim to counteract it. To this day, the ILO remains a steadfast guardian of workers' rights, a role it has proudly played for over a century and will hopefully continue for many to come.
KEY TAKEAWAYS | 0.2 min read
- The International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labor rights
- ILO activities include advocacy, research and data collection, strategy development and implementation, providing aid and training, consulting, and more.
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