- In the first two years of the ILO’s existence, 22 international labour conventions were adopted. Some of the topics that the first conventions addressed were “hours of work in the industry, unemployment, maternity protection, night work for women, minimum age, and night work for young persons in the industry.”
- In 1930, the ILO adopted the first future fundamental convention: the Forced Labour Convention (No.29), which prohibited all forms of forced labour unless exempted by certain conditions.
- With the onset of the Great Depression, the United States joined the ILO in 1934 noting that complex labour issues would require an international response.
- With the backdrop of World War 2, the ILO broadened its mandate with the Declaration of Philadelphia, signed during the 26th general conference session in 1944.
- The Declaration of Philadelphia, which is attached to the general constitution of the ILO, foreshadows some of the ILO’s earliest future fundamental conventions including the freedom of expression and association which was adopted in 1948 as Convention 87, Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention.
- In the first half of the 20th century, global divisions of labour were shaped largely by the practices of colonialism. Poorer countries exported natural resources to richer countries, which then manufactured and produced specialised goods. However, towards the latter part of the 20th century, a number of factors saw protectionist measures fall. Such factors included rising labour costs in the north, advances in transportation and communication technologies, the liberalisation of trade, and the deregulation of markets.
International Labour Standards
International labour standards are a comprehensive set of legal instruments that establish basic principles and rights at work, with a goal to improve working conditions on a global scale. The Conventions and Recommendations of the ILO form international labor standards. Conventions are legally binding international treaties that may be ratified by member states.
The ILO’s Governing Body has identified eight conventions as ‘fundamental’, covering subjects that are considered as fundamental principles and rights at work:
1. Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
2. Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)
3. Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
4. Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
5. Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
6. Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)
7. Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)
8. Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
ILO Conventions
Some of the conventions are:
- C014 – Weekly Rest (Industry) Convention, 1921 (No. 14)
- C029 – Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
- C077 – Medical Examination of Young Persons (Industry) Convention, 1946 (No. 77)
- C078 – Medical Examination of Young Persons (Non-Industrial Occupations) Convention, 1946 (No. 78)
- C081 – Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81)
- C087 – Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
- C094 – Labour Clauses (Public Contracts) Convention, 1949 (No. 94)
- C095 – Protection of Wages Convention, 1949 (No. 95)
- C097 – Migration for Employment Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 97)
- C098 – Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)
- C100 – Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)
- C102 – Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102)
- C105 – Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
- C106 – Weekly Rest (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1957 (No. 106)
- C110 – Plantations Convention, 1958 (No. 110)
- C111 – Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
- C115 – Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115)
- C118 – Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962 (No. 118)
- C120 – Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 (No. 120)
- C121 – Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 [Schedule I amended in 1980] (No. 121)
- C122 – Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122)
- C124 – Medical Examination of Young Persons (Underground Work) Convention, 1965 (No. 124)
- C128 – Invalidity, Old-Age and Survivors’ Benefits Convention, 1967 (No. 128)
- C129 – Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129)
- C130 – Medical Care and Sickness Benefits Convention, 1969 (No. 130)
- C131 – Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131)
- C135 – Workers’ Representatives Convention, 1971 (No. 135)
- C138 – Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
- C139 – Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139)
