The International Labour Organization (ILO) was established in 1919, under the Treaty of Versailles, as an autonomous institution associated with the League of Nations. An agreement establishing the relationship between the ILO and the United Nations was approved in 1946 and ILO became the first specialized agency associated with the United Nations.

Aims and Activities

ILO works to promote social justice for working people everywhere. It formulates international policies and programs to help improve working and living conditions; creates international labor standards to serve as guidelines for national authorities in putting these policies into action; carries out an extensive program of technical cooperation to help governments in making these policies effective in practice; and engages in training, education and research to help advance these efforts.

ILO is unique among world organizations in that workers' and employers' representatives have an equal voice with those of governments in formulating its policies. The International Labour Conference is composed of delegates from each member country-two from the government and one each representing workers and employers. One of its most important functions is the adoption of conventions and recommendations which set international labor standards in such areas as freedom of association, wages, hours and conditions of work, workmen's compensation, social insurance, vacation with pay, industrial safety, employment services and labor inspection.

For member states that ratify them, ILO conventions create binding obligations to put their provisions into effect, while recommendations provide guidance for national policy, legislation and practice. Since ILO was founded, more than 350 conventions and recommendations have been adopted. ILO monitors the application of conventions by ratifying states and has a special procedure for investigating complaints of infringements of trade union rights.

Through the organization's program of technical cooperation, ILO experts assist member countries in such fields as vocational training, management techniques, manpower planning, employment policies, occupational safety and health, social security systems, cooperatives and small-scale handicraft industries.

Opportunities for study and training are offered at ILO's International Institute for Labour Studies in Geneva and the International Training Center in Turin, Italy.

On its 50th anniversary in 1969, ILO was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Administration

Between the annual sessions of the International Labour Conference, in which all members are represented, the work of ILO is guided by the Governing Body, comprising 28 government members and 14 worker and 14 employer members.

From Basic Facts About the United Nations. Published by United Nations Department of Public Information. Copyright 1995 United Nations.