The International Labour Organization ILO is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards. It is headquartered in Geneva , Switzerland, with around 40 field offices around the world, and employs some 3, staff across nations, of whom 1, work in technical cooperation programmes and projects. The ILO's standards are aimed at ensuring accessible, productive, and sustainable work worldwide in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity.
The ILO is a major contributor to international labour law. Within the UN system the organization has a unique tripartite structure: all standards, policies, and programmes require discussion and approval from the representatives of governments, employers, and workers. This framework is maintained in the ILO's three main bodies: The International Labour Conference, which meets annually to formulate international labour standards; the Governing Body, which serves as the executive council and decides the agency's policy and budget; and the International Labour Office, the permanent secretariat that administers the organization and implements activities.
In , the ILO received the Nobel Peace Prize for improving fraternity and peace among nations, pursuing decent work and justice for workers, and providing technical assistance to other developing nations. Unlike other United Nations specialized agencies, the International Labour Organization ILO has a tripartite governing structure that brings together governments, employers, and workers of member States, to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.
The structure is intended to ensure the views of all three groups are reflected in ILO labour standards, policies, and programmes, though governments have twice as many representatives as the other two groups. It meets three times a year, in March, June and November.
It takes decisions on ILO policy, decides the agenda of the International Labour Conference, adopts the draft Programme and Budget of the Organization for submission to the Conference, elects the Director-General, requests information from the member states concerning labour matters, appoints commissions of inquiry and supervises the work of the International Labour Office.
