International Labour Movement and the ILO

1. International Labour Movement and the ILO Programme for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) International Training Center of ILO

2. Objectives of this Session • We willdiscuss on: • Structure of Int’l Labour Movement • Fundamental Goal and Principle of ILO • Structure (Major Components) of ILO • Major Functions of ILO • Roles of ACTRAV (Bureau for Workers’ Activities) • Current Issues concerning the ILO

3. International Labour Movement

4. Current Structure ITGLWF ICEM IFBWW ICFTU International Confederation of Free Trade Unions GUFs Global Union Federations IMF ITF PSI IFJ ETUC EI IUF UNI WCL World Confederation of Labour OECD-TUAC WFTU World Federation ofTrade Unions

5. Future Structure? ITGLWF ICEM IFBWW ICFTU International Confederation of Free Trade Unions GUFs Global Union Federations IMF ITF PSI IFJ ETUC EI IUF UNI WCL World Confederation of Labour By May 2006? New International Confederation WFTU World Federation ofTrade Unions

6. Why International Movement? • Unity is the source of strength for workers • Response to Globalization Need to create a global voice of workers

7. Fundamental Goal and Principle of ILO

8. Fundamental Goal of ILO SOCIAL JUSTICE Better Working Conditions PREAMBLE “Universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice” Standard Setting Technical Co-operation Tripartite System Meetings - Information - Research - Expertise

9. Tripartism:Fundamental Principle of the ILO “Tripartism” is : • The active interactions among the government, workers and employers as representative, equal and independent social partners. To seek mutually agreeable solutions for issues of common concerns.

10. Governments ILO Workers Employers Tripartism in Shape

11. Tripartism: How it works? Active Interaction in order to seek joint solutions Partners must be willing to reach, and respect, agreements Partners must be committed, competent and active

12. Tripartism: Strengthof ILO The “Tripartite System” enables: • the representatives of workers and employers to participate on an equal footing with those of governments in all discussions and the process of decision-makings. ILO is the only UN agency which has the “tripartite system” imbedded in its root.

13. 3. Structure of the ILO

14. Major Components of the ILO International Labour Conference Governing Body International Labour Office

15. International Labour Conference - Meet every year in Geneva in June; - Each member State is represented by two G delegates, one E delegate & one W delegate, plus advisers. • Main Tasks: • Discuss (in Committee) and adopt (in Plenary) international labour standards, and supervise their application; • Elect Governing Body • Admit a new Member; • Pass resolutions which provide guidelines for the ILO's general policy and future activities. • Adopt every two years the ILO's biennial work programme and budget

16. International Labour Conference Conference Committees 1. Selection Committee (28G, 14E, 14W) 2. Credentials Committee (G, E, W) 3. Conference Drafting Committee 4. Committee on the Application of Conventionsand Recommendations 5. Finance Committee of Government Representatives 6. Other committees - Committees to discuss a new standard

17. Governing Body of ILO • The executive body of the ILO • Meets three times a year (in March, June and November); • Takes decisions on ILO policy; • Decides the agenda of the Conference; and • Elects the Director-General. • Composition • 56 titular (28 G, 14 E and 14 W) and 66 deputy (28 G, 19 E and 19 W); • 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); and • The Employer and Worker members are elected in their individual capacity; and • GB Election is held every three years (2005 is the election year!)

18. Governing Body of ILO • The Governing Body has the following committees: • Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) • Programme, Financial and Administrative Committee (PFA) • Committee on Legal Issues and International Labour Standards (LILS) • Working Party on Policy regarding the Revision of Standards (WP/PRS) • Subcommittee on Multinational Enterprises (MNE) • Committee on Employment and Social Policy (ESP) • Committee on Sectoral and Technical Meetings and Related Issues (STM) • Committee on Technical Cooperation (TC) • Working Party on the Social Dimension of Globalization (WP/SDG)

19. International Labour Office • The permanent secretariat of the ILO, located in Geneva. • Focal point for the overall activities that it prepares under the scrutiny of the Governing Body and under the leadership of a Director-General • Some 1,900 officials of over 110 nationalities at the headquarters and in 40 field offices around the world. • Some 600 experts undertaking missions in all regions of the world under the programme of technical cooperation. • A research and documentation centre and a printing house

20. International Labour Office • The Regional Office (RO) • Sub-Regional Office (SRO) • The Area Office (AO) • International Training Center of ILO (Turin)

21. 4. Major Functions of ILO

22. Standard Setting International Labour Standards (ILS) Conventions Recommendations Adoption by the Conference Application at national level (through legislation and practice)

23. Areas of the ILS Basic human rights Conditions of work Employment Social security Social policy Women Labor administration Industrial relations Children and young persons Protection of special groups

24. C. 87 C. 98 C. 100 C. 111 Freedom of Association, 1948 Right to Collective Bargaining, 1949 Equal Remuneration, 1951 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation), 1958 C. 29 C. 105 C. 138 C. 182 Forced Labour, 1930 Abolition of Forced Labour, 1957 Minimum Age, 1973 Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 ILS : Core Labour Standards Standards concerning fundamental human/social rights Freedom of Association Freedom from Discrimination Freedom from Forced Labour Minimum Age for Employment

25. Technical Cooperation • Dispatch specialists to Member States to advise on technical matters • Provisions of facilities for training to further the aims of full employment, the raising of standards of living, and greater job satisfaction. • Vocational training facilities

26. 5. Roles of ACTRAV

27. ILO Tripartism: Summary Active Partnership ACTEMP ACTRAV Achievement of “Social Justice” through establishment and maintenance of “Active Partnership” among the Governments, Workers’ and Employers’ Organizations.

28. Tripartism: Role of ACTRAV • For the spirits and purposes of the Tripartism, trade unions must be “representative, competent and responsible”, which give real effect to the system and methodology. ACTRAV supports the establishment and strengthening of “free, independent, democratic and representative trade unions” in all countries in the world.

29. What does ACTRAV do? • Supports trade unions to be formed and to develop as truly representative social partners; • Disseminate policies and programmes of the ILO and its technical units to trade unions; • Reflect interests of trade unions in programmes and actions of the ILO; • Support workers’ representatives in ILO’s decision making bodies; and • Educate and train trade union leaders/ activists/staff.

30. Tripartism: Structure of ACTRAV Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ILO/ACTRAV-Geneva) Asia/Pacific Desk: K. Takagi • Overall policy/strategy making • Liaison with other unit • Support for Workers’ Group • Reflection of workers’ interests ILO/ACTRAV-Turin (International Training Center of the ILO) Asia/Pacific: H. Ishibashi Field Specialists (RO, SRO and AO) Bangkok: R. Raghwan New Delhi: P.S. Ahn Manila: D.P.A. Naidu • Direct contact with unions • Implementation of ACTRAV policies and strategies in each country • Dissemination of information • Implementation of training programmes

31. 6. Issues for Discussion

32. Current Issues Concerning ILO • Low and declining union density→ Question of Representativeness • “Organized full-time male workers” Model • “Most competent workers’ organizations” provision • Widening North-South gap→ Question of Universality • Lack of representation of developing countries in many of ILO structures and activities • Euro-centrism

33. Thank you for your attention! Programme for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) ITC-ILO