International Organizations: ILO & Development Categories

Categories of Countries Receiving Special Attention

• Least Developed Countries (47 countries)
• Landlocked Developing Countries (32 countries)
• Small Island Developing States

Commissions

• Trade and Development Commission
• Investment, Enterprise and Development Commission
• Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD)

The International Labor Organization (ILO)

The ILO is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labor rights. It was established in 1919 and became the first specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946. It has 187 members.

Key Issues

• Youth employment
• Social protection
• Decent work and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Strategic Objectives

• Promote and realize standards and rights at work.
• Create greater opportunities for women and men to decent employment and income.
• Enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all.
• Strengthen tripartism and social dialogue.

How it Works

The ILO encourages "tripartism" by giving equal voice to workers, employers, and governments in its deliberations. Thus, it promotes social dialogue and ensures that the views of the social partners are closely reflected in ILO labor standards, policies, and programs.

Institutions

• International Labor Office - the permanent secretariat of the ILO.
• Governing Body - the executive body of the ILO.
• International Labor Conference:

• - Meets once a year in Geneva, bringing together governments', workers', and employers' delegates of the ILO member States.
• - Establishes and adopts international labor standards.
• - Adopts ILO's budget and elects the Governing Body.

The International Labor Standards

They are legal instruments drawn up by the ILO's constituents (governments, employers, and workers) that set out basic principles and rights at work.

Conventions (legally binding international treaties to be ratified by member States) or Recommendations (non-binding)

It is backed by a supervisory system.

The Decent Work Concept

Decent work involves opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, better prospects for personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their concerns, organize and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity and treatment for all women and men.