About ILO:

• International Labour Organisation is a U.N. agency that was established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles.
• ILO is the only tripartite agency that brings together governments, employers and workers representatives of 187 member States, to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men

Structure of ILO

• The ILO is composed of three organs: the General Conference of representatives of member states (the “International Labour Conference”); the Governing Body; and the International Labour Office. 
• The Governing Body is the executive council of the ILO. It takes policy decisions of ILO and establishes the programme and the budget, which it then submits to the Conference for adoption.
• The Conference and the Governing Body are composed of half of government representatives and half of representatives of employers and workers of member States. 
• The presence and voting power of these non-governmental elements give the ILO a unique perspective on the problems before it and offer possibilities for dealing with practical problems facing ILO members.

Objectives of ILO

• Set and promote standards and fundamental principles and rights at work 
• Create greater opportunities for women and men to decent employment and income 
• Enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all 
• Strengthen tripartism and social dialogue 

International Labour Standards

• The principal means of action in the ILO is setting up the International Labour Standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations

• Conventions are international treaties and instruments, which create legally binding obligations on the countries that ratify them. 
• Recommendations are non-binding and set out guidelines orienting national policies and actions

• There are eight Core Conventions of the ILO (also called fundamental/human rights conventions) which are as follows

• • Forced Labour Convention (No. 29)
  • Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No.105)
  • Equal Remuneration Convention (No.100)
  • Discrimination (Employment Occupation) Convention (No.111)
  • Freedom of Association and Protection of Right to Organised Convention (No.87)
  • Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No.98)

• Minimum Age Convention (No.138)

• Worst forms of Child Labour Convention (No.182)

• The two Core Conventions directly related to child labour are that of ILO Convention 138 and 182. India has ratified both the Core Conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO).  

Why in the news?

• India’s term as Chairperson of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation came to an end and it handed over the responsibility of the Chair to Ambassador Anna Jardfelt, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

Reference:

1. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1730376