Why this matters now
ILO is tested for: founded 1919 under Treaty of Versailles Part XIII as part of post-WWI labour-rights settlement; HQ GENEVA; oldest existing organ of the League of Nations; became FIRST UN SPECIALISED AGENCY 14 December 1946; NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1969; 187 member states; DG Gilbert Houngbo (Togo, 1 Oct 2022-) — first African DG; UNIQUE TRIPARTITE STRUCTURE — each country’s delegation has 2 govt + 1 employer + 1 worker with independent votes (the only UN body with non-state actors voting); International Labour Conference annual June Geneva; Governing Body 56 members (28 govt + 14 employer + 14 worker); International Labour Standards: 8 Core Conventions on Fundamental Principles + Rights at Work (FPRW) + 4 priority + ratified by member states; Decent Work Agenda 4 pillars: employment + rights + protection + dialogue.
India & ILO
- India founding member 1919.
- India ratified 47 of 191 ILO Conventions; 6 of 8 core conventions ratified.
- Core conventions India has ratified: C29 Forced Labour, C100 Equal Remuneration, C105 Abolition of Forced Labour, C111 Discrimination (Employment), C138 Minimum Age (ratified 2017), C182 Worst Forms of Child Labour (ratified 2017).
- Core conventions India has NOT ratified: C87 Freedom of Association + C98 Right to Organise & Collective Bargaining.
- India is on permanent seat on Governing Body as one of 10 states of chief industrial importance.
- India hosts ILO Decent Work Country Programme 2023-27.
- 4 labour codes (2019-20) — Wages + Industrial Relations + Social Security + OSH — align with ILO standards.
8 Fundamental ILO Conventions
| Convention | Subject |
|---|---|
| C87 (1948) | Freedom of Association. |
| C98 (1949) | Right to Organise + Collective Bargaining. |
| C29 (1930) | Forced Labour. |
| C105 (1957) | Abolition of Forced Labour. |
| C138 (1973) | Minimum Age (15 yrs). |
| C182 (1999) | Worst Forms of Child Labour. |
| C100 (1951) | Equal Remuneration. |
| C111 (1958) | Discrimination (Employment + Occupation). |
| C155 + C187 (added 2022) | Safe + Healthy Work added as 5th fundamental principle at 110th ILC June 2022. |
UPSC angle
Know ILO INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION — founded 1919 UNDER TREATY OF VERSAILLES PART XIII as part of post-WWI labour-rights settlement; HQ GENEVA; OLDEST EXISTING ORGAN OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS; became FIRST UN SPECIALISED AGENCY 14 DEC 1946; NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1969; 187 MEMBER STATES; DG GILBERT HOUNGBO Togo 1 OCT 2022- FIRST AFRICAN DG; UNIQUE TRIPARTITE STRUCTURE each country delegation 2 GOVT + 1 EMPLOYER + 1 WORKER with INDEPENDENT VOTES (only UN body with non-state actors voting); International Labour Conference annual JUNE GENEVA; Governing Body 56 members (28 govt + 14 employer + 14 worker); 8 FUNDAMENTAL CONVENTIONS: C87 (1948) Freedom of Association; C98 (1949) Right to Organise + Collective Bargaining; C29 (1930) Forced Labour; C105 (1957) Abolition of Forced Labour; C138 (1973) Minimum Age 15 yrs; C182 (1999) Worst Forms of Child Labour; C100 (1951) Equal Remuneration; C111 (1958) Discrimination Employment Occupation; C155 + C187 ADDED 2022 SAFE + HEALTHY WORK 5th FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE at 110th ILC June 2022; INDIA FOUNDING MEMBER 1919; ratified 47 of 191 ILO Conventions; 6 of 8 CORE CONVENTIONS ratified (C29 + C100 + C105 + C111 + C138 ratified 2017 + C182 ratified 2017); NOT RATIFIED C87 Freedom of Association + C98 Right to Organise/Collective Bargaining; INDIA PERMANENT SEAT ON GOVERNING BODY as one of 10 STATES OF CHIEF INDUSTRIAL IMPORTANCE; India hosts ILO Decent Work Country Programme 2023-27; 4 LABOUR CODES 2019-20 (Wages + Industrial Relations + Social Security + OSH) align with ILO standards.
Frequently asked questions
When was ILO founded?
In 1919 under Part XIII of the Treaty of Versailles — the oldest still-existing organ of the League of Nations. It became the first UN specialised agency on 14 December 1946.
What is unique about ILO governance?
Its tripartite structure — each country’s delegation has 2 government + 1 employer + 1 worker representatives, each voting independently. It is the only UN agency where non-state actors directly vote on standards.
How many ILO core conventions has India ratified?
6 of 8. Ratified: C29, C100, C105, C111, C138 (2017), C182 (2017). Not ratified: C87 Freedom of Association + C98 Right to Organise & Collective Bargaining (concerns over government servants).
Has ILO won a Nobel Prize?
Yes — the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969, marking its 50th anniversary, for promoting peace through social justice and labour standards.