Indian ratification at ILO

Founding Member: India is a founding member of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which was established in 1919. India participated in the inaugural session and has maintained its status as a key partner ever since.
Governing Body: India’s influence grew as it became a permanent member of the ILO Governing Body in 1922. This status as one of eight chief industrial countries was achieved while India was still under colonial rule, but was independent of Britain’s membership.
Tripartite Engagement: A unique feature of the ILO is tripartism, promoting decision-making by governments, employers, and workers. India’s adoption of this model has strengthened social dialogue domestically, especially through participation in ILO deliberative bodies like the International Labour Conference (ILC), the Governing Body, and International Labour Office.
Key Indian Leaders: India has had several prominent representatives presiding over major ILO events. Notable Indian Presidents of the International Labour Conference include Sir Atul Chatterjee (1927), Jagjivan Ram (1950), Dr. Nagendra Singh (1970), and Ravindra Verma (1979). Indians have also served as Vice Presidents and committee chairs at these conferences.
Influence on Legislation: The ILO’s guidance influenced critical domestic reforms, including the Trade Union Act of 1926 and recommendations on minimum wage fixation. The ILO was instrumental during periods such as the Great Depression and shaped national policy, including social security and industrial relations.

Highlights from Indian Labour Conference (ILC) History

Origins: The Indian Labour Conference (ILC) is India’s premier tripartite consultative committee advising the government on key labour issues. The first meeting was held in 1942 (then called the Tripartite National Labour Conference).
Role in Policy: ILC sessions, held annually, have significantly influenced Indian labour law. For instance, the 15th ILC (1957) established widely accepted norms for minimum wage calculation, still used as a benchmark today.
Recent Sessions: As of July 2015, a total of 46 official sessions had taken place, with each focusing on contemporary labour issues such as wage policy, social security, and industrial relations.
Notable Milestones: ILC discussions have led to recommendations on minimum standards for food, clothing, and rent, which underpin wage-setting frameworks. ILC’s tripartite structure ensures representation of workers, employers, and government in policy formulation.

Recent Ratification and Updates

Ratifications: India has ratified 47 ILO conventions and 1 protocol, with most focusing on core areas like forced labour, child labour, discrimination, and minimum wage. As of August 2025, 39 conventions remain in force, with some denounced and others abrogated as domestic laws evolved.
Recent Milestone: In June 2017, India ratified two fundamental ILO child labour conventions (138 and 182), marking substantial progress toward eradicating child labour and advancing social justice.
Current Status: India has ratified 6 of 8 core/fundamental ILO conventions, with the exceptions (C87 and C98) relating to freedom of association and collective bargaining still pending due to legal complexities around public sector employment.

India’s ILO Convention Ratification: Key Information

Overview

India has ratified 47 ILO Conventions and 1 Protocol.
These conventions cover a range of topics including minimum age, forced labour, equal remuneration, discrimination in employment, occupational safety, and child labour.

Core/Fundamental Conventions

The International Labour Organization (ILO) identifies eight core conventions focused on basic human rights at work.
India has ratified six out of eight core ILO conventions.
The two not ratified are:
- Convention 87: Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise
- Convention 98: Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining

Ratified Notable Conventions

C29: Forced Labour Convention, 1930
C105: Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957
C100: Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951
C111: Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958
C138: Minimum Age Convention, 1973
C182: Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999

Conventions Not Yet Ratified

Convention 87: Guarantees all workers the right to establish and join organisations of their choosing without prior authorisation. Not ratified mainly due to restrictions for government employees (see below).
Convention 98: Protects the right of workers to organise and engage in collective bargaining. Also not ratified over statutory limitations for public sector staff.

Reasons for Non-Ratification of Core Conventions

Government Employee Restrictions: Restrictions in Indian law prevent public sector employees from having full rights to organise, strike, or join foreign organisations. These rules do not meet ILO requirements for C87 and C98.
Legal Alignment: India only ratifies conventions when its domestic legislation is fully compliant. Current laws governing government employee conduct are not in harmony with the standards of these conventions.

Up-to-date Conventions Not Ratified

Some up-to-date conventions not ratified by India include:

Occupational Safety and Health Convention (C155)
Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention (C187)
Decent Work for Domestic Workers Convention (C189)
Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention (C102)

Summary Table: India and ILO Core Conventions

India’s Participation in the ILO and Indian Labour Conference: Frequency and Highlights

International Labour Organization (ILO)

India was a founding member of the ILO in 1919, and has participated in the International Labour Conference (ILC) almost every year since its inception (with a break only during World War II).
The ILC, the "parliament of labour," meets annually, and India sends tripartite delegations (government, employer, worker representatives) regularly.
As of June 2024, the ILC has held its 112th session—India has participated in each, making its attendance count among the highest of any country.

Indian Labour Conference (ILC – National)

The first Indian Labour Conference (then called the Tripartite National Labour Conference) was held in 1942.
As of July 2015, a total of 46 sessions have been held.
- These sessions are typically annual, but have experienced gaps; for instance, recent news highlights have called for more regular meetings.
- The 46th session was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi in July 2015.

Key Insight:
India has been a consistent and prominent participant at both the global ILO conferences and its own national-level Indian Labour Conference, reflecting deep engagement in international and domestic labour policy formulation. For up-to-date session counts, consult these links for updates:

India: ILO Conventions Not Ratified

India does not follow/ratify the following fundamental ILO conventions:

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (Convention No.87)
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (Convention No.98)

These are among the eight core ILO conventions, and India is one of the few major countries that has not ratified these two. The total count of core conventions not followed is two.

Reasons for non-ratification:

India has statutory rules for government employees that prohibit the right to strike, to openly criticize government policies, to freely accept foreign contributions, and to freely join foreign organizations. These restrictions are inconsistent with the requirements of ILO Conventions 87 and 98.

India: ILO Core Conventions Followed/Ratified

India does follow/ratify the remaining six out of eight core ILO conventions:

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No.29)
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No.105)
Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No.100)
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No.111)
Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No.138)
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No.182)

These six conventions have been ratified and are currently followed in India’s labour law and policy.

Summary (in points):

Number India does NOT follow: 2 (Conventions 87 & 98)
Names India does NOT follow: Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise; Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining
Number India follows: 6 (Forced Labour, Abolition of Forced Labour, Equal Remuneration, Discrimination in Employment, Minimum Age, Worst Forms of Child Labour)
Names India follows: Convention 29, 105, 100, 111, 138, 182

India’s key challenge in ratifying all ILO core conventions lies in government employee policies, despite a strong record of ratification and following other fundamental labour standards.

Useful Links for Live Updates

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

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