write an essay on indian labour congress (ilc)

• Insights IAS Brochure |
• OUR CENTERS Bangalore Delhi Lucknow Mysuru --> Srinagar Dharwad Hyderabad

Call us @ 08069405205

Search Here

• An Introduction to the CSE Exam
• Personality Test
• Annual Calendar by UPSC-2025
• Common Myths about the Exam
• About Insights IAS
• Our Mission, Vision & Values
• Director's Desk
• Meet Our Team
• Our Branches
• Careers at Insights IAS
• Daily Current Affairs+PIB Summary
• Insights into Editorials
• Insta Revision Modules for Prelims
• Current Affairs Quiz
• Static Quiz
• Current Affairs RTM
• Insta-DART(CSAT)
• Insta 75 Days Revision Tests for Prelims 2024
• Secure (Mains Answer writing)
• Secure Synopsis
• Ethics Case Studies
• Insta Ethics
• Weekly Essay Challenge
• Insta Revision Modules-Mains
• Insta 75 Days Revision Tests for Mains
• Secure (Archive)
• Anthropology
• Law Optional
• Kannada Literature
• Public Administration
• English Literature
• Medical Science
• Mathematics
• Commerce & Accountancy
• Monthly Magazine: CURRENT AFFAIRS 30
• Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
• InstaMaps: Important Places in News
• Weekly CA Magazine
• The PRIME Magazine
• Insta Revision Modules-Prelims
• Insta-DART(CSAT) Quiz
• Insta 75 days Revision Tests for Prelims 2022
• Insights SECURE(Mains Answer Writing)
• Interview Transcripts
• Previous Years' Question Papers-Prelims
• Answer Keys for Prelims PYQs
• Solve Prelims PYQs
• Previous Years' Question Papers-Mains
• UPSC CSE Syllabus
• Toppers from Insights IAS
• Testimonials
• Felicitation
• UPSC Results
• Indian Heritage & Culture
• Ancient Indian History
• Medieval Indian History
• Modern Indian History
• World History
• World Geography
• Indian Geography
• Indian Society
• Social Justice
• International Relations
• Agriculture
• Environment & Ecology
• Disaster Management
• Science & Technology
• Security Issues
• Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
• Insights IAS Brochure

• Indian Heritage & Culture
• Enivornment & Ecology

Indian Labour Conference (ILC)

Topics Covered: Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.

Indian Labour Conference (ILC):

The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene the Indian Labour Conference (ILC) .

• The most recent session of ILC was held in 2015, at the earliest.

Need for convening ILC:

• The ILC is “required to uphold the noble tradition of tripartism in the country”.
• India also has a legal obligation to do so since the Parliament has ratified Convention No. 144 of the ILO related to strengthening the tripartite mechanism .
• The Indian Labour Conference (ILC) is the apex level tripartite consultative committee in the Ministry of Labour & Employment to advise the Government on the issues concerning working class of the country.
• All the 12 Central Trade Union Organisations, Central Organisations of employers, all State Governments and Union Territories and Central Ministries/Departments concerned with the agenda items, are the members of the ILC.
• The first meeting of the Indian Labour Conference (then called Tripartite National Labour Conference) was held in 1942 and so far a total of 46 Sessions have been held.

Significance:

Indian Labour Conference discusses and deliberates on significant issues aimed at improving the welfare of the workers. Notable contributions have been emanated by this forum including the Minimum wage fixing methodology and standing orders for employment.

Insta Curious:  

What are the 8 fundamental or core conventions of the International Labour Organisation? Out of these 8 What conventions have been ratified by India? Read here

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

• Participants.
• Important ILO conventions.

Mains Link:

Discuss the significance of ILC.

Sources: the Hindu.

• Our Mission, Vision & Values
• Director’s Desk
• Commerce & Accountancy
• Previous Years’ Question Papers-Prelims
• Previous Years’ Question Papers-Mains
• Environment & Ecology
• Science & Technology

Indian Labour Conference

Indian labour conference:.

The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (labour union) wrote to the Prime Minister asking him to convene the Indian Labour Conference (ILC).

• It argued that since Indian Parliament has ratified Convention No 144 of the International Labour Organisation, it is now India’s legal obligation to hold the ILC in order to strengthen the tripartite mechanism.
• ILC also known as the ‘labour parliament’ of the country formed on the lines of International Labour Conference is the apex level tripartite (Government, Employers and Workers) consultative committee in the Ministry of Labour & Employment.
• International Labour Conference also known as International Parliament of Labour is a conference organized by ILO every year.
• Each member State is represented by a delegation consisting of two government delegates, an employer delegate, a worker delegate, and their respective advisers.
• The first meeting of the ILC (then called Tripartite National Labour Conference) was held in 1942 and so far a total of 46 Sessions have been held.
• The most recent session of which was held in 2015.
• The agenda of the ILC is finalised by the Standing Labour Committee which is again a tripartite body after detailed discussions.
• To advise the Government on the issues concerning the working class of the country.
• Central Trade Union Organisations, Central Organisations of employers, all State Governments and Union Territories and Central Ministries/Departments concerned with the agenda items, are the members of the ILC.

...Read more on our test console

...Read these too

Child Labour: The Centre does not have any data on child labour in the country and a reason for this is the drying up of budgetary provisions meant for the…

Indian Economy: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that the Indian economy will grow at the rate of 7.4 percent in the current fiscal as well as in the next…

Indian Startup Ecosystem: Various reforms and initiatives by the Government have led to booming of the Indian Startup ecosystem. The term startup refers to a company in the first stages…

Important Links

• Current Affairs App
• CrackitToday Android App
• WordGame - Improve Vocabulary
• CrackitToday Instagram Page
• CrackitToday Youtube Channel

Important External Links

• UPSC Official Website
• UPSC Online (Exams and Results)
• UPSC CSE Syllabus 
• Latest Updates on UPSC Exams

Need any help with your UPSC exam preparation? We are here to help. Just enter your phone number and we will call you back within 24 hrs.

• Warren Hastings: First Governor General of Bengal and Pioneer of British India
• The Four Spheres of The Earth
• Rossby Waves
• 1.    India: General Introduction
• COP26- Glasgow Conference

Indian Labour Conference (ILC)

Ministry of Labour and Employment

The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene  the Indian Labour Conference (ILC).

• The most recent session of ILC was held in 2015, at the earliest.

About Indian Labour Conference

• The Indian Labour Conference (ILC) is the apex level tripartite consultative committee in the Ministry of Labour & Employment to advise the Government on the issues concerning working class of the country.
• Members: All the 12 Central Trade Union Organisations, Central Organisations of employers, all State Governments and Union Territories and Central Ministries/Departments concerned with the agenda items, are the members of the ILC.
• 46th Session of Indian Labour Conference was held in July, 2015 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
• The agenda of the ILC is finalised by the Standing Labour Committee which is again a tripartite body after detailed discussions.
• The ILC was held every year or after two years in exceptional circumstances.
• It was only during the Emergency that the ILC was not held.
• The ILC was required to uphold the noble tradition of tripartism in the country and that India being a founding member of the International Labour Organisation had traditionally upheld the high ideals of tripartism.
• India also has a legal obligation to do so since the Indian Parliament has ratified Convention No. 144 of the ILO related to strengthening tripartite mechanism.

Significance of ILC:

Indian Labour Conference discusses and deliberates on significant issues aimed at improving the welfare of the workers. Notable contributions have been emanated by this forum including the Minimum wage fixing methodology and standing orders for employment.

To  advise the Government  on the  issues concerning the working class  of the country.

Some Government Initiatives for the Working Class:

• Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan
• National Pension Scheme for Traders, Shopkeepers and Self-Employed Persons
• Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)
• Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana -“Saubhagya”
• Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Indian Labour Conference (ILC)

The Indian Labour Conference (ILC) is the apex level tripartite consultative committee in the Ministry of Labour & Employment to advise the Government on the issues concerning working class of the country.

As a matter of practice, and to maintain continuous dialogue with social partners, meetings of this apex body are convened once in a year to discuss the topical issues concerning labour.

The first meeting of the Indian Labour Conference (then called Tripartite National Labour Conference) was held in 1942 and as on July 2015 a total of 46 Sessions have been held.  The Agenda and Record of Discussions of the various ILC meetings may be seen here .

ILC plays a very important role in policy formulation. For instance, the norms recommended by the Indian Labour Conference, held in 1957, are taken into account while fixing the minimum wages even now. These recommendations are as follows:

• 3 consumption units for one earner. 
• Minimum food requirements of 2700 calories per average Indian adult.
• Clothing requirements of 72 yards per annum per family. 
• Rent corresponding to the minimum area provided for under Government’s Industrial Housing Scheme. 
• Fuel, Lighting and other miscellaneous items of expenditure to constitute 20% of the total minimum wage.

Membership in ILC All the 12 Central Trade Union Organisations, Central Organisations of employers, all State Governments and Union Territories and Central Ministries/Departments concerned with the agenda items, are the members of the ILC. 

Parity in number of representatives is maintained between the Employers’ and Workers’ Groups by allocation of equal number of seats to each Group.

As recommended by the National Labour Conference held in September 17-18, 1982, only Trade Union Organisations, which have, a membership of more than five lakhs, spread over four States and four industries are given representation in the ILC.

The Central Trade Union Organisations represented in ILC include –

• Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, (BMS)
• Indian National Trade Union Congress , (INTUC)
• All India Trade Union Congress , (AITUC)
• Hind Mazdoor Sabha ,
• Centre of Indian Trade Unions, (CITU)
• All India United Trade Union Centre,
• Trade Union Coordination Centre, (TUCC)
• Self Employed Women’s Association , (SEWA)
• All India Central Council of Trade Union,
• Labour Progressive Federation ,
• United Trades Union Congress,
• National Front of Indian Trade Unions . (DHN)

The Employers Organisations represented in ILC include,

• Council of Indian Employers {(Standing Conference of Public Enterprises ( SCOPE ), Employers’ Federation of India (EFI) & All India Organisation of Employers ( AIOE )},
• All India Manufacturers’ Organization   ( AIMO),
• Laghu Udyog Bharati ( LUB),
• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII),
• Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) &
• The Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). 

The Government seats are determined so as to give representation to various Central Ministries, State Governments and Union Territories.

India being a founding member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and also a permanent member of the Governing Body since 1922 as a country of Chief Industrial importance is deeply committed to provide decent quality employment to the vast workforce in accordance with the Decent Work Agenda of the ILO.

• PIB release of Ministry of Labour & Employment dated 20 July, 2015
• Parliament Questions on the subject

Contributed by

• Rosemary K. Abraham, IES(2006)
• Email- [email protected]

Personal tools

• Log in / create account
• Suggest a concept
• View source
• View history
• Concept Index
• Create a Concept
• Suggest a Concept
• Users Guide
• Author Index
• Editorial Board
• Submission Guidelines
• Subscribe to Arthapedia
• Updates History

Share Tools

• What links here
• Related changes
• Special pages
• Printable version
• Permanent link
• This page was first created on 21 July 2015, at 12:00 and last modified on 19 April 2016, at 11:09.
• This page has been accessed 47,830 times.
• Privacy policy
• About Arthapedia
• Disclaimers
• Website developed by csipl.net

The 46 th session of India Labour Conference concluded Yesterday at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi where the recommendations and conclusions were adopted on 5 chosen agenda items after the at length tripartite deliberations which lasted 2 days.

In his concluding remarks, the chairman of the ILC and Labour and Employment Minister of state (Independent Charge) , Shri Bandaru Dattatreya reiterated his Governments commitment to reform process with tripartite consensus to promote the employment generation at a massive scale particularly for the aspiring youth population of this country.

The consensus conclusions/recommendations on each of the agenda items are reproduced here:

     Implementation of the conclusions/ recommendations of the 43 rd , 44 th and 45 th Indian labour conference, particularly on contract labour, Minimum wages and scheme workers and tripartite mechanism Conclusions of the committee are as follows:-

     The committee debated the recommendations of the 43 rd , 44 th and 45 th Indian labour conference at length and expressed its concern over non-implementation of the conclusions, particularly on contract labour, Minimum wages, scheme workers and tripartism. It was therefore unanimously recommended that concrete measures should be undertaken to expeditiously implement the recommendations in letter and spirit. Periodic reviews should be undertaken by the stakeholders.

Recommendations of conference committee on “social security for organized, unorganized and migrant International workersâ€

There was an in-principle agreement for coverage of all workers organized as well as unorganized under social security with support wage by Government, if required, for providing decent living conditions. The committee recommended that:

       I.             Mechanism for identification and registration of unorganized workers should be provided. Special drive should be launched for the said purpose and, if required, direct registration by the Government.

    II.             Schemes for organized/ unorganized workers should be made efficient.

  III.             Budgetary provisions should be made for those unorganized workers who are not covered under any specific social security scheme.

  IV.             The cost of registration of unorganized workers should be borne by the Central/ State Government.

    V.             There should be proper utilization of fund collected through building construction cess and administrative expensed should not be for what is not stipulated.

  VI.             The Anganwadi/ Asha/ Mid-day meal and other such workers, the committee   reiterated that they should be extended coverage under ESI/ EPF.

VII.             As regards ESIC, the following recommendations were given:-

a.      ESIC to expand to cover all states/ UTs. All districts where scheme is running at present should be covered fully/

b.     The ESIC scheme to be expanded to unorganized sector by reducing the threshold form present 10. Self employed  should be provided medical benefit, in phases.

c.      The ESIC should directly run the health services in all the states. Stated should not be asked to bear the cost of Medical expenses.

d.     Medical Facilities should be expanded at a fast pace; establishments of hospitals and dispensaries should be decided based on geographical necessity.

e.      All construction workers should be covered under ESI.

f.      ESI coverage for round the clock for medical benefit.

VIII.    As regards EPF, recommendations were:-

a.      Medical Scheme to EPS pensioners from the surplus Corpus of EDLI Scheme.

b.     Extension of coverage by reducing threshold form 20 to 10. ‘Member of LUB opposed this’

c.      Coverage of both inter-state and international migrant workers under EPF Act.

d.     EPF pension should be enhanced and linked with price index.

IX.       Wages definition should be uniform for all labour laws.

X.        There should be a mechanism so that employers can deposit social security contributions at single window.

XI.       For construction workers, there should be a single contribution from employer.

XII.     Implementation of the decisions taken by 43 rd , 44 th and 45 th ILC with regard to Social Security.

     However, on the point of optional schemes for ESI & EPF, the employee’s representatives strongly opposed whereas the employers representatives were of the view that options should be available.

     Removal of Conditions on payment Ceiling eligibility Limits, Decisions to pay Minimum Bonus without linking to loss when the performance indicator satisfy grant of bonus- The major conclusions emanating from the discussions in the committee are as follows:

     The Conference committee on amendment of Bonus Act – Removal of Conditions on Payment Ceiling, Eligibility Limits. Decisions to pay Minimum Bonus without linking to loss when the performance indicator satisfy grant of bonus constituted to discuss the Agenda item No. 3 of 46 th session of the Indian Labour Conference met under the chairmanship of Captain Abhimanyu, Minister of Labour, Govt. of Haryana. Shri Om Prakash Mittal, General Secretary, Laghu Udyog Bharti (LUB) and Ms. Meenakshi Gupta and Mr. B.B. Mallick, Joint Secretary, MoLE respectively were the Vice-Cheirman and Member Secretary of the Committee. The Committee had the representation of all the stake-holders (Workers’ Group, Employers’ Group and State Government).

2.  At the very outset, the chairman of the committee welcomed all the representatives. He observed that the issue of bonus has been pending for long. He expressed the hope that all the partners would understand and appreciate the position of each other and give recommendations keeping in the view the larger national interest. The Vice-Chairman also welcomed all the Members. Thereafter, the Member Secretary introduced the subject. The agenda has following 3 issues:-

(i).                Removal of calculation ceiling;

(ii).              Removal of Eligibility Limit; and

(iii).            Decisions to pay Minimum Bonus without Linking to loss when the performance indicator satisfy grant of bonus.

3. It was mentioned that last revision in the limits (Calculation Ceiling – Rs. 3500 and Eligibility Limit-RS. 10,000) was done in 2007 based on the recommendations of the 41 st ILC.

4.  The committee had very intense detailed discussions on all the aspects of the Agenda Item no. 3.

(i).             The Trade Unions were of the view that all the ceilings under the payment of Bonus Act. 1965 i.e. eligibility ceiling, calculation ceiling and maximum percent of bonus payable need to be removed. They further expressed that they would like to reiterate the stand taken by them in the tripartite meeting held on 20 October, 2014.

(ii).                        The Employers, representatives were of the view that total removal of various ceilings may lead to spurt in industrial relation issues. They observed that while making any change in the payment of Bonus Act, 1965 productivity of the workers and paying capacity of the employers have to be taken into account. They further observed that they are not in favour of indexation of cost of living for the purpose of ceiling and bonus calculation. The term ‘Employee’ should be substituted by the term ‘workman’ as defined under the industrial disputes Act. The present system of prescribing limits both for eligibility and calculation should be retained.

(iii).                      The State Government representatives were of the view that minimum, limit of bonus (8.33%) may continue. Regarding limits with regard to calculation and payment ceiling it was stated that they had no comments to offer. They further observed that distinction between statutory bonus and productivity linked bonus is quite relevant in this regard.

(iv).                      The State Government representatives also suggested that the central Government may consider notifying the limits for eligibility of bonus and calculation of bonus through and administrative process based on tripartite mechanism rather then legislative process every time. Appropriate amendment to the payment of Bonus Act, 1965 may have to be carried out accordingly.

Labour laws Amendments proposed/ done by central or State Governments Conclusions of the committee are as follows:-

1.  The committee reiterates historical role of tripartite mechanism functioning in the country before any enactment/ amendment of labour laws.

2.  Any labour law amendments/ enactment should take into account three purpose namely:

(i).             Rights and welfare of workers;

(ii).                        Sustainability of enterprises and job creation; and

(iii).                      Industrial peace.

3.  The labour laws need to be relooked and updated in a time bound manner.

4.  Committee recommends that the overall exercise of the labour law amendments should be discussed in the tripartite forum and the broad and specific proposals should also be discussed in tripartite meetings.

Recommendations of committee on “Employment and Employment Generation†of 46 the Indian Labour conference (ILC) are as follows:-

1.     The committee noted that the recommendations of 43 rd to 45 th ILC on Employment & Employability need to be fully implemented.

2.     Recognising the employment potential in micro and small industry, especially in rural areas, an effective single-window system be established to promoted agro-based and micro & small industries with facility like concessional finance etc. A system for centralized marketing of products manufactured by these industries can also be developed.

3.     Enhance the outlays and threshold for public employment generation programmes in both rural and urban areas.

4.     Fill up vacant posts in Central Government, State Governments and Public Sector Undertakings in a time bound manner.

5.     Reiterate the necessity for publishing quarterly employment and unemployment data.

6.     With Central and State Government moving to on-line systems for employment exchanges there is a need for capacity building of Employment Exchanges officers for their revised roles under National Career Service (NCS). Need for integration of Central and State IT initiatives to avoid duplication.

7.     Utilization of idle capacity in Vocational and Educational Institutions and closed/ sick industry for demand responsive training.

8.     Enhance and expand areas for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) with effective assessment.

9.     Enhance number and improve quality of assessors for vocational training and consider including ITI faculty for assessments.

10.   To identify labour-intensive industries and new areas where jobs can be created like renewable energy and reusable resources etc. and providing employment liked training.

11.    Evolve strategies for increasing female workforce participation in both public and private employment.

• Daily Practice Sheets
• Daily Prelims Notes
• Prelims Power Play
• Mains Factly
• Sunday Essay Sadhna
• Laqshya 2025
• ARJUNA PRIME 2025
• Daily Answer Writing
• Mains Master Notes
• Daily Prelims Notes Compilation
• Daily Practice Sheet Compilation
• PPP Compilation
• General Studies Notes
• UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers
• Portal Login

Convene Indian Labour Conference

• July 20, 2021
• Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
• Category: DPN Topics

Subject: National Organisations

Context : The BharatiyaMazdoorSangh on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to convene the Indian Labour Conference (ILC), the most recent session of which was held in 2015, at the earliest.

• The Indian Labour Conference (ILC) is the apex level tripartite consultative committee in the Ministry of Labour & Employment to advise the Government on the issues concerning working class of the country.
• All the 12 Central Trade Union Organisations, Central Organisations of employers, all State Governments and Union Territories and Central Ministries/Departments concerned with the agenda items, are the members of the ILC.
• The first meeting of the Indian Labour Conference (then called Tripartite National Labour Conference) was held in 1942 and so far a total of 46 Sessions have been held.
• The 46th Session of Indian Labour Conference was held on 20–21 July, 2013 at VigyanBhavan, New Delhi .
• The agenda of the ILC is finalised by the Standing Labour Committee which is again a tripartite body after detailed discussions.

• Archives of Indian Labour

(A joint initiative of VVGNLI and AILH)

"archives is to society what memory is to human beings." from vvgnl and ailh memorandum of understanding 1998.

• ALL INDIA TRADE UNION CONGRESS (AITUC)

Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

• Classroom Programme
• Interview Guidance
• Online Programme
• Drishti Store
• My Bookmarks
• My Progress
• Change Password
• From The Editor's Desk
• How To Use The New Website
• Help Centre

Achievers Corner

• Topper's Interview
• About Civil Services
• UPSC Prelims Syllabus
• GS Prelims Strategy
• Prelims Analysis
• GS Paper-I (Year Wise)
• GS Paper-I (Subject Wise)
• CSAT Strategy
• Previous Years Papers
• Practice Quiz
• Weekly Revision MCQs
• 60 Steps To Prelims
• Prelims Refresher Programme 2020

Mains & Interview

• Mains GS Syllabus
• Mains GS Strategy
• Mains Answer Writing Practice
• Essay Strategy
• Fodder For Essay
• Model Essays
• Drishti Essay Competition
• Ethics Strategy
• Ethics Case Studies
• Ethics Discussion
• Ethics Previous Years Q&As
• Papers By Years
• Papers By Subject
• Be MAINS Ready
• Awake Mains Examination 2020
• Interview Strategy
• Interview Guidance Programme

Current Affairs

• Daily News & Editorial
• Daily CA MCQs
• Sansad TV Discussions
• Monthly CA Consolidation
• Monthly Editorial Consolidation
• Monthly MCQ Consolidation

Drishti Specials

• To The Point
• Important Institutions
• Learning Through Maps
• PRS Capsule
• Summary Of Reports
• Gist Of Economic Survey

Study Material

• NCERT Books
• NIOS Study Material
• IGNOU Study Material
• Yojana & Kurukshetra
• Chhatisgarh
• Uttar Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh

Test Series

• UPSC Prelims Test Series
• UPSC Mains Test Series
• UPPCS Prelims Test Series
• UPPCS Mains Test Series
• BPSC Prelims Test Series
• RAS/RTS Prelims Test Series
• Daily Editorial Analysis
• YouTube PDF Downloads
• Strategy By Toppers
• Ethics - Definition & Concepts
• Mastering Mains Answer Writing
• Places in News
• UPSC Mock Interview
• PCS Mock Interview
• Interview Insights
• Prelims 2019
• Product Promos

Important Institution

Make Your Note

International Labour Organization

• 15 Oct 2019
• 14 min read
• Important International Institutions
• Global Groupings
• Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India's Interests

Last Updated: July 2022

International Labour Organization (ILO) is the only tripartite U.N. agency, since 1919. It brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 member States, to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.

• In May 2022, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has released the Ninth Edition of ILO Monitor on the World of Work Report, which says that after significant gains during the last quarter of 2021, the number of hours worked globally dropped in the first quarter of 2022, to 3.8% below the employment situation before the Covid-19.

What is the History behind the Establishment?

• Established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League of Nations.
• Became the first affiliated specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Founding Mission: social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace.
• Promotes internationally recognized human and labour rights.
• For improving peace among classes
• Pursuing decent work and justice for workers
• Providing technical assistance to other developing nations
• Ensuring labour rights during the Great Depression
• Decolonization process
• The creation of Solidarność ( trade union) in Poland
• The victory over apartheid in South Africa
• Today it is providing substantial support in the building of an ethical and productive framework for fair globalization.

Note: The basis of the ILO is the tripartite principle, i.e. the negotiations within the organization are held between the representatives of governments, trade unions, and member-states’ employers.

What is the Organisational Structure of ILO?

• It is also a forum for discussion of key social and labour questions.
• It takes policy decisions of ILO and establishes the programme and the budget, which it then submits to the Conference for adoption.
• The work of the Governing Body and the Office is aided by tripartite committees covering major industries.
• It is also supported by committees of experts on such matters as vocational training, management development, occupational safety and health, industrial relations, workers’ education, and special problems of women and young workers.
• It is the focal point for ILO’s overall activities, which it prepares under the scrutiny of the Governing Body and under the leadership of the Director-General.
• Regional meetings of the ILO member States are held periodically to examine matters of special interest to the regions concerned.

What are the Functions of the ILO?

• Creation of coordinated policies and programs, directed at solving social and labour issues.
• Adoption of international labour standards in the form of conventions and recommendations and control over their implementation.
• Assistance to member-states in solving social and labour problems.
• Human rights protection (the right to work, freedom of association, collective negotiations, protection against forced labour, protection against discrimination, etc.).
• Research and publication of works on social and labour issues.

What are the Objectives of the ILO?

• To promote and realize standards and fundamental principles and rights at work.
• To create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment.
• To enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all.
• To strengthen tripartism and social dialogue.

What are International Labour Standards?

• The ILO sets international labour standards with conventions, which are ratified by member states. These are non-binding.
• Conventions are drawn up with input from governments, workers’ and employers’ groups at the ILO and are adopted by the International Labour Conference.
• In ratifying an ILO convention, a member state accepts it as a legally binding instrument. Many countries use conventions as a tool to bring national laws in line with international standards.

What is the Decent Work Agenda?

• As part of its mission, the ILO aims to achieve decent work for all by promoting social dialogue, social protection and employment creation, as well as respect for international labour standards.
• The ILO provides technical support to more than 100 countries to help achieve these aims, with the support of development partners.

What is the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work?

• Freedom of Association and The Right to collective bargaining (Conventions 87 and 98)
• Elimination of forced or compulsory labour (Conventions No. 29 and No. 105)
• Abolition of child labour (Conventions No. 138 and No. 182)
• Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation (Conventions No. 100 and No. 111)

What are the Core Conventions of the ILO?

• The eight fundamental conventions form an integral part of the United Nations Human Rights Framework, and their ratification is an important sign of member States’ commitment to human rights.
• Overall, 135 member States have ratified all eight fundamental conventions. Unfortunately, 48 member states (out of 183 member States), including member states with the highest populations, have yet to complete ratification of all eight conventions.
• Forced Labour Convention (No. 29)
• Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No.105)
• Equal Remuneration Convention (No.100)
• Discrimination (Employment Occupation) Convention (No.111)
• Minimum Age Convention (No.138)
• Worst forms of Child Labour Convention (No.182)
• Freedom of Association and Protection of Right to Organised Convention (No.87)
• Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No.98)
• Indeed, they are part and parcel of the overarching architecture for the universality of human rights, offering protection to all, and responding closely to the quest for social justice in a globalized setting.
• They are catalytic to the UN system, the international community and local communities as a whole.

India and ILO: What is the Scenario?

• India is a founding member of the ILO and it has been a permanent member of the ILO Governing Body since 1922.
• In India, the first ILO Office was started in 1928. The decades of productive partnership between the ILO and its constituents has mutual trust and respect as underlying principles and is grounded in building sustained institutional capacities and strengthening capacities of partners.
• The main reason for non-ratification of ILO conventions No.87 & 98 is due to certain restrictions imposed on the government servants.
• The ratification of these conventions would involve granting of certain rights that are prohibited under the statutory rules, for the government employees, namely, the right to strike, to openly criticize government policies, to freely accept a financial contribution, to freely join foreign organizations etc.

What’s the Role of Trade Unions at the ILO?

• Trade unions play a crucial role in developing policy at the ILO, Worker group representation is drawn from national trade union confederations.
• The Bureau for Workers' Activities at the secretariat is dedicated to strengthening independent and democratic trade unions so they can better defend workers’ rights and interests.

What is the ILO’s Supervisory Role?

• The Committee of Experts on the Application of conventions and Recommendations.
• The International Labour Conference’s Tripartite Committee on the Application of conventions and Recommendations.
• Member states are also required to send reports on the progress of the implementation of the conventions they have ratified.

Against Whom the Complaints are Registered?

• The ILO registers complaints against entities that are violating international rules; however, it does not impose sanctions on governments.
• Complaints can be filed against member states for not complying with ILO conventions they have ratified.
• Complaints can be from another member state which has signed the same convention, a delegate to the International Labour Conference or the ILO's Governing Body.

What is the ILO’s Global Commission on the Future of Work?

• It was co-chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Swedish Prime Minister, Stefan Löfven.
• The commission outlines a vision for a human-centred agenda that is based on investing in people’s capabilities, institutions of work and decent and sustainable work.
• Its has undertaken an in-depth examination of the future of work that can provide the analytical basis for the delivery of social justice in the 21 st century.
• Artificial intelligence, automation and robotics will lead to job losses, as skills become obsolete.
• A universal labour guarantee that protects the fundamental rights of workers’, an adequate living wage, limits on hours of work and safe and healthy workplaces.
• Guaranteed social protection from birth to old age that supports people’s needs over the life cycle.
• A universal entitlement to lifelong learning that enables people to skill, reskill and upskill.
• Managing technological change to boost decent work, including an international governance system for digital labour platforms.
• Greater investments in the care, green and rural economies.
• A transformative and measurable agenda for gender equality.
• Reshaping business incentives to encourage long-term investments.