International labour organization

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency founded in October 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles, following World War I. It was established as part of the League of Nations and later became the first specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946. The ILO's mission is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards, promoting decent work conditions, and protecting workers' rights worldwide. Its core principle is that "labour is not a commodity," emphasizing the dignity and respect due to workers.

The ILO has a unique tripartite structure where governments, employers, and workers all participate equally in its policymaking. Its main bodies include the International Labour Conference, the Governing Body, and the International Labour Office headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Currently, the ILO comprises 187 member states—186 of the 193 United Nations member states plus the Cook Islands. Very few UN members are not part of the ILO, including Andorra, Bhutan, Liechtenstein, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, and North Korea.

Over its history, the ILO has adopted 189 conventions and treaties addressing a variety of labour rights and standards. Among these, eight are considered core fundamental conventions targeting freedom of association, collective bargaining, forced labour, child labour, discrimination, and minimum age for work.

Regarding ratification status:

• Most ILO member countries have ratified numerous conventions.

• Over two-thirds of member states have ratified all eight core conventions.

• However, a minority have not ratified some or all core conventions, often due to domestic legal or policy constraints.

In summary:

• The ILO is over 100 years old, formed to promote labour rights globally.

• It has 187 member countries.

• Most countries ratify the core ILO conventions, although some countries still have outstanding ratifications for certain conventions.

This framework has made the ILO a central institution for international labour standards, social justice in work, and tripartite cooperation between governments, employers, and workers around the world.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) was founded in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles, following World War I. Its main purpose is to set international labor standards and promote social justice. The ILO became the first specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946 and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969 for its efforts to advance social justice and fair labor practices.

India's Role in the ILO:

• India is a founding member of the ILO and has been a permanent member of its Governing Body since 1922.

• The ILO opened its first office in India in 1928.

• India is active in the ILO’s global decision-making and regularly showcases its achievements in labor welfare and social protection at the ILO’s meetings and forums.

• India advocates for fair migration and social justice, both within the ILO and internationally.

ILO Conventions and India's Implementation Status:

• The ILO has created over 190 conventions and protocols.

• India has ratified a total of 47 ILO conventions and 1 protocol, with 39 of the conventions currently in force. Five conventions have been denounced and four abrogated by India.

• Focusing on the fundamental “core” conventions recognized globally as the most important for labor rights, there are eight such conventions. India has ratified six and not ratified two.

ILO Core Conventions - India’s Status:

• Ratified:

  1. Forced Labour Convention (No. 29)

  2. Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No. 105)

  3. Equal Remuneration Convention (No. 100)

  4. Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (No. 111)

  5. Minimum Age Convention (No. 138)

  6. Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182)

• Not Ratified:

  1. Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (No. 87)

  2. Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No. 98)

India has not ratified Conventions No. 87 and No. 98 mainly because national legal provisions for government employees, such as restrictions on joining unions, striking, or joining foreign organizations, are not fully aligned with these conventions. Nevertheless, India has legal frameworks that embody related principles for other categories of workers.

Implementation:

• Six core ILO conventions are reflected in Indian law, such as the Factories Act, Equal Remuneration Act, and Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.

• Many other ILO conventions ratified by India have also influenced labor legislation.

• Enforcement is a challenge, particularly concerning working hours, trade union rights, and protection in the informal sector. Therefore, implementation is sometimes partial or subject to domestic interpretations.

In summary: India has played a significant role in the ILO, has ratified 47 conventions including six out of eight core conventions, and not ratified two core conventions due to legal constraints regarding government employees. Most of the ratified conventions are reflected in national laws, with some gaps in enforcement or alignment remaining.

ILO International (Headquarters, Geneva):

• Official Website:
  https://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm

• About the ILO:
  https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/lang--en/index.htm

• Contact Page:
  https://www.ilo.org/global/contact-us/lang--en/index.htm

• Address:
  4 route des Morillons, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland

• Phone:
  +41 22 799 6111

ILO India (New Delhi Office):

• ILO India Homepage (About and Staff):
  https://www.ilo.org/newdelhi/aboutus/WCMS_414166/lang--en/index.htm

• Contact Information:
  https://www.ilo.org/newdelhi/aboutus/WCMS_165178/lang--fr/index.htm?ssSourceSiteId=global

• Address:
  International Labour Organization,
  4, Dr Rajendra Prasad Road,
  New Delhi-110001, India

• Phone:
  +91 11 2336 0656-8, +91 11 2336 6462

ILO Conventions and Ratifications (India):

• India Ratifications List:
  https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:11200:0::NO::p11200_country_id:102691

• Up-to-date Conventions not ratified by India:
  https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:11210:0::NO:11210:P11210_COUNTRY_ID:102691

• Convention 87 (Freedom of Association):
  https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO:12100:P12100_INSTRUMENT_ID:312232:NO

• Convention 98 (Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining):
  https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO:12100:P12100_INSTRUMENT_ID:312243:NO

ILO Social Media Channels:

• Facebook: https://facebook.com/InternationalLabourOrganization

• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ilo

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/user/ILOnews

• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/international-labour-organization-ilo

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ilo_official

For up-to-date emails and additional contacts, please refer to the official ILO contact pages as organization email addresses may change. All addresses and phone numbers above are based on standard and official listings from the ILO’s website as of August 2025.