4.What is the structure of the ILO?

UNIT 2.

UNION PARTICIPATION IN THE STRUCTURES OF THE ILO

4.What is the Structure of the ILO?

The central structure of the ILO is made up of three bodies:

The Governing Body (tripartite). Considered the executive body of the ILO. The International Labour Conference (tripartite). Considered the "legislative" body of the ILO. The International Labour Office. The permanent secretariat of the ILO.

Each of these three bodies has functions related to ILO’s policy and legal guidance and action and to the functioning of the ILO standards and supervisory systems.

The following is practical information on each of these bodies.

THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE ILO

What is it?

The Governing Body is a tripartite body that is considered to be the executive body of the ILO. It meets three times a year (usually in March,

June, and November) at ILO headquarters in Geneva.

Composition

56 titular members: 28 Government delegates, 14 Employers’ delegates and 14 Workers’ delegates (in a ratio of 2:1:1) and 66 deputy members: 28 Government delegates, 19 Employers’ delegates and 19 Workers’ delegates (in a ratio of 2:1:1).

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. ● The other members are elected every three years.

Functions

Decision-making on ILO policy;

Setting the agenda of the International Labour Conference;

Discussion and decision-making on issues related to standards and the supervisory system; ● The adoption of the Programme and Budget to be submitted to the Conference; ● The election of the Director-General.

Regulation

The operation of the Governing Body is determined by its Compendium of rules and by a series of practices and rules of procedure. All these rules are contained in the Compendium of rules applicable to the Governing

Body of the International Labour Office (ILO, 2019), which can be found here: https://www.ilo.org/gb/about-governing-body/WCMS_586687/ lang--en/index.htm

More information about the Governing Body is available here:

https://www.ilo.org/gb/lang--en/index.htm

THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE OF THE ILO

What is it?

The International Labour Conference is the "legislative" body of the ILO. It meets once a year (usually in the first weeks of June) at ILO headquarters in Geneva.

Composition

Each Member State is represented by a delegation composed of two government delegates, one employer delegate, and one worker delegate, plus their respective technical advisers.

The employer and worker delegates are appointed in agreement with the most representative national organizations of employers and workers.

Government, employers', and workers' delegates must be duly appointed by ILO Member States.

Each delegate may be accompanied by up to two technical advisers for each item on the agenda of the Conference session.

Any delegate may designate one of his or her technical advisers as an alternate. Each alternate shall participate in the discussions and in the voting under the same conditions as the titular delegates.

Both governmental and nongovernmental international organizations attend as observers. For example, the International Trade Union Confederation or Global Union Federations such as Public Services International may have delegates as observers.

Functions

● The development and adoption of international labor standards.

The supervision of the application of Conventions and Recommendations at the national level, through the examination of the reports which all

Member States are obliged to submit to the ILO on the fulfilment of their obligations under the Conventions they have ratified and on legislation and implementation with regard to the Conventions (ratified or not) and

Recommendations on which reports have been requested by the

Governing Body.

The examination of the Global Report prepared by the International

Labour Office under the follow-up to the 1998 Declaration on Fundamental

Principles and Rights at Work. ● The general discussion of social and labor issues.

The adoption of resolutions providing guidance for the general policy and future activities of the ILO.

The approval and adoption of the ILO biennial programme and budget, financed by Member States. ● The election of the delegates of the Governing Body every 3 years.

Regulation

The functioning of the Conference is governed by its Rules of Procedure, which can be found at the following link: http://www.ilo.org/ilc/Rulesfortheconference/lang--en/index.htm

More information about the International Labour Conference is available here:

https://www.ilo.org/ilc/ILCSessions/108/lang--es/index.htm

THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE OF THE ILO

What is it?

The International Labour Office is the permanent secretariat of the ILO. It is based in Geneva and has about 40 offices in every region of the world.

It is at headquarters that the meetings of the Governing Body and the

International Labour Conference are held.

Composition

It is composed of international civil servants, under the direction of the

Director-General.

Functions

The Office supports the tripartite bodies of the ILO by preparing the documents and reports that constitute the background material for discussion at International Labour Conferences and Governing Body meetings. It also provides and manages technical assistance and cooperation programmes to States and social partners at the national level.

Method

The Office carries out its activities through technical cooperation departments, units, offices, programmes, and projects.

The list of departments and units can be found at the following link: https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/how-the-ilo-works/ departments-and-offices/lang--en/index.htm

International Training Centre (ITC) Turin

The ITC is the training division of the Office. The ITC has more than 60 years of experience in the field of education and training of decision makers, managers, specialists, and trainers from the three ILO constituents (government, workers’, and employers' organizations). Training activities are carried out on the campus in Turin, in the field in the regions, or through distance education. ITC courses can be found here: https://www.itcilo.org/es/courses

Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV)

ACTRAV is the main link between the Office and the trade unions. ACTRAV's main role is to assist trade unions in defending and promoting workers' rights and to ensure that their concerns are considered in the development of the

Office's policies and activities. The ACTRAV team of specialists is distributed between the Office's headquarters, the regional and subregional offices, and the International Training Centre. The composition and distribution of

ACTRAV staff can be found at the following link: https://www.ilo.org/actrav/about/lang--en/index.htm

Resources of the Office

The Office offers many resources that trade unions can use to carry out their work, including: a) technical assistance; b) direct contact missions; c) publications; d) databases; etc.