International Labour Organization (ILO)

• Founded in 1919, the ILO is a tripartite U.N. agency that brings together representatives from governments, employers, and workers of 187 member states.

• It is the only tripartite agency of the UN, bringing together governments, employers, and workers to set labour standards, develop policies, and create programs to promote decent work for all.

• Established by the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League of Nations.

• In 1946, it became the first affiliated specialised agency of the United Nations.

• The ILO received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969 for its efforts in improving peace among classes.

Organisational Structure:

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has three main bodies that represent governments, employers, and workers:

• International Labour Conference: Sets international labor standards and broad policies for the ILO, and meets annually in Geneva

• Governing Body: Serves as the executive council of the ILO, and meets three times a year in Geneva to decide on policy and budget

• International Labour Office: The permanent secretariat of the ILO 

  
  

  The International Labour Organization's (ILO) Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81)

  
  

  • It is a governance convention that establishes principles for labour inspection systems in the commercial and industrial sectors. 

  • This Convention shall be binding only upon those Members of the International Labour Organisation whose ratifications have been registered with the ILO Director-General.

  • India ratified the convention in the year 1949 itself with some exceptions.

  • The convention's goal is to ensure that national laws are enforced to protect workers and their working conditions. 

  • These laws cover areas such as hours, wages, safety, health, welfare, and child labour. 

  • According to the Convention, there must be sufficient qualified and well-provided inspectors and they shall enter the establishments freely and without prior notice at any time to secure due compliance of the labour laws, among others.

  • The convention also requires labour inspectors to provide technical information and advice to employers and workers on how to comply with the law