International Labour Organization

**Governance, Organization, and Membership:**
– The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a UN agency founded in 1919 under the League of Nations.
– It has 187 member states and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
– The ILO aims to ensure accessible, productive, and sustainable work worldwide.
– Membership includes 186 UN member states and Cook Islands; some UN states like Andorra and North Korea are not part of the ILO.
– Non-UN states can join with a two-thirds vote, as Cook Islands did in June 2015.

**Leadership and Functions:**
– The Director-General, Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo, succeeded Guy Ryder in 2022, becoming the first African Director-General.
– The Director-General organizes the annual International Labour Conference, which sets ILO policies and conventions.
– The ILO has adopted 189 conventions, considered international labour standards, and has the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
– Conventions create legal obligations for ratifying nations, and the Committee on the Application of Standards monitors compliance.

**International Labour Conference:**
– Known as the international parliament of labour, the conference is held annually in Geneva.
– It was delayed to 2021 due to COVID-19 and involves delegations from member states.
– The conference plays a crucial role in setting ILO policies and conventions.

**Position within the UN and Normative Function:**
– The ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations and a member of the United Nations Development Group.
– It has a normative function with 189 conventions adopted as of July 2018, including the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
– Conventions, protocols, and recommendations are used to establish and enforce international labour standards.

**Historical Background:**
– The ILO was established post-World War I under the League of Nations.
– Pre-war networks like the International Association for Labour Legislation influenced its formation.
– The ILO architects balanced idealism and pragmatism, focusing on post-war reconstruction and labor union protection.
– The organization’s history reflects a commitment to social engineering and the promotion of fundamental labor principles.