International Labour Movement and the ILO

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International Labour Movement and the ILO
Programme for Workers Activities
(ACTRAV) International Training Center of ILO
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Objectives of this Session

• We will discuss on
• Structure of Intl Labour Movement
• Fundamental Goal and Principle of ILO
• Structure (Major Components) of ILO
• Major Functions of ILO
• Roles of ACTRAV (Bureau for Workers Activities)
• Current Issues concerning the ILO

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International Labour Movement
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Current Structure
ITGLWF
ICEM
IFBWW
ICFTU International Confederation of Free Trade
Unions
GUFs Global Union Federations
IMF
ITF
PSI
IFJ
ETUC
EI
IUF
UNI
WCL World Confederation of Labour
OECD-TUAC
WFTU World Federation ofTrade Unions
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Future Structure?
ITGLWF
ICEM
IFBWW
ICFTU International Confederation of Free Trade
Unions
GUFs Global Union Federations
IMF
ITF
PSI
IFJ
ETUC
EI
IUF
UNI
WCL World Confederation of Labour
By May 2006?
New International Confederation
WFTU World Federation ofTrade Unions
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Why International Movement?

• Unity is the source of strength for workers
• Response to Globalization

Need to create a global voice of workers
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Fundamental Goal and Principle of ILO
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Fundamental Goal of ILO
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Better Working Conditions
PREAMBLE Universal and lasting peace can be
established only if it is based upon social
justice
Standard Setting
Technical Co-operation
Tripartite System
Meetings - Information - Research - Expertise
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TripartismFundamental Principle of the ILO

• Tripartism is
• The active interactions among the government,
  workers and employers as representative, equal
  and independent social partners.

To seek mutually agreeable solutions for issues
of common concerns.
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Tripartism in Shape
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Tripartism How it works?
Active Interaction in order to seek joint
solutions
Partners must be willing to reach, and respect,
agreements
Partners must be committed, competent and active
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Tripartism Strength of ILO
ILO is the only UN agency which has the
tripartite system imbedded in its root.

• The Tripartite System enables
• the representatives of workers and employers to
  participate on an equal footing with those of
  governments in all discussions and the process of
  decision-makings.

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3. Structure of the ILO
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Major Components of the ILO
International Labour Conference
Governing Body
International Labour Office
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International Labour Conference
- Meet every year in Geneva in June - Each
member State is represented by two G delegates,
one E delegate one W delegate, plus advisers.

• Main Tasks
• Discuss (in Committee) and adopt (in Plenary)
  international labour standards, and supervise
  their application
• Elect Governing Body
• Admit a new Member
• Pass resolutions which provide guidelines for the
  ILO's general policy and future activities.
• Adopt every two years the ILO's biennial work
  programme and budget

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International Labour Conference
Conference Committees 1. Selection Committee
(28G, 14E, 14W) 2. Credentials Committee (G, E,
W) 3. Conference Drafting Committee 4. Committee
on the Application of Conventions and
Recommendations 5. Finance Committee of
Government Representatives 6. Other committees -
Committees to discuss a new standard
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Governing Body of ILO

• The executive body of the ILO
• Meets three times a year (in March, June and
  November)
• Takes decisions on ILO policy
• Decides the agenda of the Conference and
• Elects the Director-General.
• Composition
• 56 titular (28 G, 14 E and 14 W) and 66 deputy
  (28 G, 19 E and 19 W)
• Ten of the titular government seats are
  permanently held by States of chief industrial
  importance (Brazil, China, France, Germany,
  India, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the
  United Kingdom and the United States) and
• The Employer and Worker members are elected in
  their individual capacity and
• GB Election is held every three years (2005 is
  the election year!)

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Governing Body of ILO

• The Governing Body has the following committees
• Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA)
• Programme, Financial and Administrative Committee
  (PFA)
• Committee on Legal Issues and International
  Labour Standards (LILS)
• Working Party on Policy regarding the Revision of
  Standards (WP/PRS)
• Subcommittee on Multinational Enterprises (MNE)
• Committee on Employment and Social Policy (ESP)
• Committee on Sectoral and Technical Meetings and
  Related Issues (STM)
• Committee on Technical Cooperation (TC)
• Working Party on the Social Dimension of
  Globalization (WP/SDG)

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International Labour Office

• The permanent secretariat of the ILO, located in
  Geneva.
• Focal point for the overall activities that it
  prepares under the scrutiny of the Governing Body
  and under the leadership of a Director-General

• Some 1,900 officials of over 110 nationalities at
  the headquarters and in 40 field offices around
  the world.
• Some 600 experts undertaking missions in all
  regions of the world under the programme of
  technical cooperation.
• A research and documentation centre and a
  printing house

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International Labour Office

• The Regional Office (RO)
• Sub-Regional Office (SRO)
• The Area Office (AO)
• International Training Center of ILO (Turin)

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4. Major Functions of ILO
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Standard Setting
International Labour Standards (ILS)
Conventions
Recommendations
Adoption by the Conference
Application at national level (through
legislation and practice)
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Areas of the ILS
Basic human rights
Conditions of work
Employment
Social security
Social policy
Women
Labor administration
Industrial relations
Children and young persons
Protection of special groups
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ILS Core Labour Standards

• Standards concerning fundamental human/social
  rights

Freedom of Association
Freedom from Discrimination
Freedom from Forced Labour
Minimum Age for Employment
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Technical Cooperation

• Dispatch specialists to Member States to advise
  on technical matters
• Provisions of facilities for training to further
  the aims of full employment, the raising of
  standards of living, and greater job
  satisfaction.
• Vocational training facilities

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5. Roles of ACTRAV
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Tripartism Summary
Active Partnership
ACTEMP
ACTRAV
Achievement of Social Justice through
establishment and maintenance of Active
Partnership among the Governments, Workers and
Employers Organizations.
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Tripartism Role of ACTRAV

• For the spirits and purposes of the Tripartism,
  trade unions must be representative, competent
  and responsible, which give real effect to the
  system and methodology.

ACTRAV supports the establishment and
strengthening of free, independent, democratic
and representative trade unions in all countries
in the world.
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What does ACTRAV do?

• Supports trade unions to be formed and to develop
  as truly representative social partners
• Disseminate policies and programmes of the ILO
  and its technical units to trade unions
• Reflect interests of trade unions in programmes
  and actions of the ILO
• Support workers representatives in ILOs
  decision making bodies and
• Educate and train trade union leaders/
  activists/staff.

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Tripartism Structure of ACTRAV
Bureau for Workers Activities (ILO/ACTRAV-Geneva)
Asia/Pacific Desk K. Takagi

• Overall policy/strategy making
• Liaison with other unit
• Support for Workers Group
• Reflection of workers interests

ILO/ACTRAV-Turin (International Training Center
of the ILO) Asia/Pacific H. Ishibashi
Field Specialists (RO, SRO and AO) Bangkok R.
Raghwan New Delhi P.S. Ahn Manila D.P.A. Naidu

• Direct contact with unions
• Implementation of ACTRAV policies and strategies
  in each country
• Dissemination of information

• Implementation of training programmes

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6. Issues for Discussion
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Current Issues Concerning ILO

• Low and declining union density? Question of
  Representativeness
• Organized full-time male workers Model
• Most competent workers organizations provision
• Widening North-South gap? Question of
  Universality
• Lack of representation of developing countries in
  many of ILO structures and activities
• Euro-centrism

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Thank you for your attention!

• Programme for Workers Activities (ACTRAV)
• ITC-ILO