
The list of International Labour Organization Conventions contains 191
codifications of worldwide
labour standards.
International Labour Organization
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards. Founded in October 1919 under the League of Nations, it is one of the firs ...
(ILO)
Conventions are developed through tripartite negotiations between member state representatives from
trade union
A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...
s,
employers' organisations and governments, and adopted by the annual International Labour Conference (ILC). Member state governments subsequently
ratify
Ratification is a principal's legal confirmation of an act of its agent. In international law, ratification is the process by which a state declares its consent to be bound to a treaty. In the case of bilateral treaties, ratification is usuall ...
Conventions and incorporate their provisions into
national legislation.
The first Convention was adopted in 1919 and covers
hours of work, Convention, adopted in 2019, covers violence and harassment in the world of work. The
Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
The Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work was adopted in 1998, at the 86th International Labour Conference and amended at the 110th Session (2022). It is a statement made by the International Labour Organization "that all Membe ...
, adopted by the member states in 1998, identified eight fundamental Conventions as binding on all members; four prohibit
forced labour
Forced labour, or unfree labour, is any work relation, especially in modern or early modern history, in which people are employed against their will with the threat of destitution, detention, or violence, including death or other forms of ...
and
child labour
Child labour is the exploitation of children through any form of work that interferes with their ability to attend regular school, or is mentally, physically, socially and morally harmful. Such exploitation is prohibited by legislation w ...
, and four provide rights
to organize, to
collectively bargain, to
equal pay and
to freedom from discrimination at work. There are also important Recommendations, which are widely adopted as standards, but do not have the same binding effect as Conventions, such as the
Employment Relationship Recommendation, 2006 (No. 198) that ensures universal protection of workers for rights, and requires clear identification in national law for the employer, state or other party responsible for the right.
The ILO monitors the application of the Conventions and makes observations regarding member state compliance, however, there are no enforcement mechanisms within the ILO for non-compliance or breaches of the Conventions. The enforcement of Conventions depends on the jurisprudence of courts recognized by the respective member states.
Classification of the Conventions
The ILO classifies Conventions by type, subject and status.
* Type relates to whether the convention is fundamental, covers governance matters or is technical (generally issues of working conditions).
* Subjects covered by the Conventions:
*#
Individual rights at work, mainly on safety, wage standards, working time, or social security, and the rights to freedom from forced to work or work during childhood.
*#
Collective labour rights to participation in the workplace, particularly to join a
trade union
A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...
, collectively bargain and take strike action, as well as direct representation within the management of organizations.
*# Rights to
equal treatment, that are referential to the terms and conditions of people in comparable situations, with special protections for indigenous communities and migrants.
*# Promotion of
job security
Job security is the probability that an individual will keep their job; a job with a high level of security is such that a person with the job would have a small chance of losing it. Many factors threaten job security: globalization, outsourcing ...
, through standards for dismissals, protection upon an employer's insolvency, regulation of employment agencies and requirements upon member states to promote full and fulfilling employment.
*# Requirements for administrative apparatus by governments to enforce and promote labour standards, through inspections, the collection of statistics, training and consulting with unions and employers before the passage of legislation.
*# Sectoral Conventions specific to certain industries, these include seafaring, fishing, plantations, hotels, nursing, home and domestic work, where employees may be particularly vulnerable.
* Status relates to whether a Convention is up to date, requires revision or has been abrogated (withdrawn).
List of the Conventions
Recommendations
As well as Conventions, the ILO also produces Recommendations, which are widely adopted as standards. These do not necessarily have the same binding effect as Conventions, nor require a ratification and monitoring process, but are nevertheless widely followed. A key norm is the
Employment Relationship Recommendation, 2006 (No. 198) that ensures universal protection of workers for rights, and requires clear identification in national law for the employer, state or other party responsible for the right.
[Employment Relationship Recommendation, 2006]
rec 198
See also
*
Declaration of Philadelphia 1944
*
Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work 1998
*
International labour law
*
European labour law
*
UK labour law
United Kingdom labour law regulates the relations between workers, employers and trade unions. People at work in the UK have a minimum set of employment rights, from Acts of Parliament, Regulations, common law and equity (legal concept), equity. ...
*
US labor law
United States labor law sets the rights and duties for employees, labor unions, and employers in the US. Labor law's basic aim is to remedy the " inequality of bargaining power" between employees and employers, especially employers "organized in ...
Notes
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External links
Conventions on the ILO webpage
International relations lists
*List
ILO