INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION

GENESIS OF I.L.O.

In 1847, Daniel Le Grand a manufacturer made an

appeal to the government of France, England, Russia, and
Switzerland for the enactment of international legislation
for the protection of the working class. The ideas of this
pioneer influenced people and there was a widespread
realization of the importance of international regulation of
condition of labour. It was as a result of these early
deliberations that the first International Conference on
labour was convened by the German Government in 1890.
The endeavour made at this conference and at the
International Labour Congress sessions of Zurich and
Brussels held in 1897 fruitfully resulted in establishment of
International Association for Labour Legislation. This
international agency made efforts to regulate conditions of
labour but its progress was slow till 1905.
• The outbreak of the First World War brought into light the
existence of many important labour problems and it was
realized that these could be solved only through regulation by a
permanent and active international agency. The trade unions
which till then had been uncooperative to the International
Association for Labour Legislation also changed their attitude.

• On 31st January 1919, the Paris peace conference

appointed a commission that proposed the establishment of the
International Labour Organization (I.L.O.) and drafted its
constitution. In 1919,it was agreed to establish the I.L.O as an
organ of the league of Nations. Though the League of Nation
could not survive the holocaust of the Second World War. The
I.L.O continued to maintain its existence. In 1946, when a new
international political organization known as the United Nations
came into existence to replace the defunct League of Nation,
the I.L.O entered into relationship with the United Nations and
became one of its specialized agencies.
 OBJECTIVES OF I.L.O.

The Preamble to the Constitution of the I.L.O. contains the basis purpose
for the attainment of which the I.L.O has been established. The preamble
is reproduced below.
Whereas universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is
based upon social justice.
And whereas conditions of labour exist involving such injustice, hardship
and deprivation of large number of people as to produce unrest due to
which the peace and harmony of the world are imperiled and an
improvement of those conditions is urgently required: e.g. regulation of
hours of work including the establishment of a maximum working day and
week, the regulation of the labour supply the prevention un
unemployment, the provision of an adequate living wage, the protection of
the worker against sickness disease and injury arising out of his
employment, the protection of children and young persons and women,
provision for old age and injury, protection of the interests of workers when
employed in countries other than their own, recognition of the principle of
freedom of association, the organization of vocational and technical
education and other measures.
 Whereas also the failure of any nation to adopt humane
conditions of labour is an obstacle in the way of other nations
which desire to improve the conditions in their own countries.
The Contracting Parties moved by the sentiment of justice and
humanity, as well as by the desire to secure the permanent
peace of the world and with a view to attaining objectives set
forth in this Preamble agree to the constitution of the
International Labour Organization.

Thus, the objectives of I.L.O can be stated as follows:

• To remove injustice, hardship and deprivation of large number

of toiling people all over the world.

• To improve conditions of employment and working in order to

establish universal and lasting peace based upon social justice
and

• To establish peace by ending social and economic inequalities.

 THE PHILADELPHIA CHARTER

The I.L.O. set forth a few fundamental principle at the time of

its inception. These principles are embodied in the form a
charter of freedom of labour the most outstanding among
which are the following:

1. Labour is not a commodity

2. Freedom of expression and association are essential

tosustained progress

3. Poverty anywhere constitutes danger to prosperity everywhere

4. The war against want required to be carried on with

unrelenting vigour within each nation and be continuance and
concerted international effort in which the representative of
workers and employers enjoying equal status, with those of the
governments for in free discussions and democratic decision,
for promotion of common welfare.
It was agreed that International Labour Organisation to
further,among the nations of the world, programmes
which would achieve:

a. Full employment and the raising of the standard of living;

b. The employment of workers in occupations in which they can

have the satisfaction of giving the fullest measure of their
skills and attainments and make their greatest contribution to
the common well-being;

c. The provision,as a means to the attainments of this end and

under adequate guarantees for all concerned,of facilities for
training and transfer of labour, including migration for
employment and settlement;

d. Policies in regard to wages and earnings, hours and other

conditions of work calculated to ensure a just share of the
fruits of progress to all, and a minimum living wage to all
employed and in need of such protections;
e. The effective recogninion of the right of collective bargaining,the
cooperation of management and labour in the continuous
improvement of productive efficiency, and the collalboration of
workers and employers in the preparation and application of
social and economic measures;

f. The extension of social security measures to provide a basic

income to all in need of such protection and comprehensive
medical care;

g. Adequate protection for the life and health of workers in all

occupations;

h. The provision for child welfare and maternity protection;

i. The provision of adequate nutrition, housing and facilities for

recreation and culture; and

j. The assurance of equality of educational and vocational

opportunity.
 MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANISATION
The Constitution of the I.L.O. provides that its membership is open to the
States which were its members on the 1st November , 1945 and such
other States which are either original members of the United Nations or are
admitted to the membership of the Union Nations by a decision of the
General Assembly in accordance with the provisions of the Charter. The
General Conference of the I.L.O.may also admit members by a vote
concurred in by two-thirds of the delegates attending.the session, including
two-thirds of the government delegates present and voting.The new
members are required to communicate to the Director General of the
International Labour Office their formal acceptance of the obligations of the
Constitution of the Organisation.

A member of the I.L.O. can withdraw from the Organisation only after
giving notice of its intention to do so to the Director General of the
International Labour Office . “Such notice shall take effect two years after
the date of its receipt by the Director General, subject to the member
having at that time fulfilled all financial obligations arising out of its
membership’’.
 ORGANISATION STRUCTURE
The International Labour Organisation
operates through three main organs.These
are:

1. The International Labour Conference of

national tripartite delegations which meets
annually
2. The Governing Body: a tripartite executive
council.
3. The International Labour Office: Permanent
Secretariat.
 THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE
The International Labour Office acts as the secretariat of ILO, a world
information centre and a publishing house. The administrative head of the
International Labour Office is its Director General.The Director General,
appointed by the Governing Body ,

• Is “responsible for the efficient conduct of the International Labour Office

and for such other duties which may be assigned to him”. He or his deputy is
required to attend all meetings of the Governing Body.The staff of the
International Labour Office are appointed by The Director General under
regulations approved by the Governing Body.

As far as possible , The staff are to be appointed from different nations and
a certain percentage of them is to consist of women .

The functions of The International Labour Office include “the

collection and distribution of information on all subjects relating to the
conditions of industrial life and Labour ,and particularly,the examination of
subject which it proposes to bring before the conference and the conduct of
such special investigations as may be ordered by the conference or the
Governing Body”.
 Subject to the directions of the Governing Body,
The International Labour Office is required to:

a. Prepare documents on the various items of theagenda for the meeting of

the conference;

b. Accord to governments at their request all appropriate assistance within its

power in connection with the framing of laws and regulations on the basis of
the decisions of the conference and the improvement of administrative
practices and systems of inspection;

c. Edit and issue publications dealing with problems of industry and

unemployment of international interest;and

d. Carry out the duties required of in connection with the effective observance
of Conventions.

Generally, the international Labour Office

exercises such powers and discharges such
duties as are assigned to it by the Conference or
the Governing Body.
 MAJOR ACTIVIES OF I.L.O.
The major activites of the I.L.O. relate to improvement of conditions of Work
and life , development of human resources and social institutions,and
research and planning .The principal aim behind the improvement of
conditions of work and life is “to promote national,and international action
designed to adjust these conditions to the requirements of social progress
at all stages of economic development bearing in mind the interdependence
of social progress and economic growth”. Programmes in the field of
development of human resources are intended “to determine principles and
policies which should govern, the development and utilization of human
resources,and to encourage their application through technical p rogrammes
in the field of employment policy and employment promotion, vocational
guidance and training , basic and advanced management training,
manpower planning and classification of occupation”. The main purpose
behind the development of social institution is “to identify and advance
solutions to the problems connected with the framing and implementation of
policies of economic and social development ,such as the role of workers’
and employers’organisation,co-operatives,rural organization, and different
forms of enterprise, and the improvement of labour relations at various
levels, undertaking, industry, regional and national’’.