International Labour Organization (ILO)

Context

The International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the Institute of Human Development (IHD) has released the ‘India Employment Report 2024,’ shedding light on the challenges faced by the Indian job market as the financial year comes to a close.

International Labour Organization (ILO)

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations  focusing on labor issues around the world. Here’s a breakdown of its key aspects:

Mission:

The ILO’s primary mission is to promote social justice and internationally recognized human and labor rights. It strives to create “decent work” for all, which means opportunities for everyone to have productive and safe work with fair compensation and rights.

History:

Established in 1919 under the League of Nations, the ILO is one of the oldest UN agencies. It became a specialized agency of the UN in 1946.

Structure:

What makes the ILO unique is its tripartite structure. This means it brings together representatives from three groups:

• Governments: Represent national interests in labor policy.
• Employers: Represent the business community and advocate for their perspectives.
• Workers: Represent the interests of employees and unions.

This tripartite approach fosters dialogue and collaboration between these groups to develop fair and effective labor standards.

Activities:

 The ILO undertakes various activities to achieve its goals, including:

• Setting international labor standards: These are guidelines for fair treatment of workers and cover areas like minimum wage, working hours, and occupational safety.
• Promoting social protection: This includes ensuring access to social security benefits like unemployment insurance, healthcare, and pensions.
• Creating greater employment opportunities: The ILO works on programs to promote job creation and skills development.
• Strengthening tripartism and social dialogue: The ILO encourages communication and cooperation between governments, employers, and workers.