It is a tripartite United Nations agency, bringing together governments, employers and workers representatives from its 187 member states to devise international labour standards.
Facts
- Established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League of Nations (LoN).
- The first specialized agency of the UN was established in 1946.
- Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland
- Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969.
Objectives
- To promote and realize standards, 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.
Functions
- 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.
Source: The Indian Express