It stands for the International Labour Organization It came into existence on April 11, 1919 and was associated with the League of Nations. Now it is working in co-operation with U.N.O. as its specialized agency. All members of the U.N.O. automatically become the members of the I.L.O. Besides, the I.L.O. can admit certain nations of its own accord. It has its own Charter, which was renewed and modified in 1954.

Organization:

It consists of three main organs :

1. The International Labour Conference:

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It consists of the representatives of all the member states of U.N.O. Every member state sends four delegates to attend the conference.

Two delegates represent the government and the other two represent the employers and the workers. The Conference discusses various labour problems of the world and takes certain decisions. These decisions are known as conventions- The government of the member states may or may not ratify such conventions.

The Conference meets at least once a year. The Conference frames the policy of the Organization in the form of conventions.

The Governing Body:

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It consists of 32 members, represent­ing the government and 8 each representing the employers and the workers. The governing body carries out the policy framed by the conference.

The International Labour Office:

It is the secretariat of the I.L.O. Its head quarters are at Geneva. The Office collects and supplies information regarding labour conditions all over the world. It prepares agenda for every Conference and publishes regular bulletins and periodi­cals regarding the condition of workers all over the world.

Functions:

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The I.L.O. seeks to promote social justice by improving the conditions of the workers all over the world. It further affirms that labour is not a commodity; freedom of expression and of association are essential to human progress; poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere; and that war against want should be carried on everywhere.

For the achievement of these purposes I.L.O. is concerned with (1) regulation of hours of work, (2) the prevention of unemployment, (3) provision of adequate living wages, (4) protection of workers against sickness, diseases, injury arising out of their employment, (5) the protec­tion of children and women, (6) provision for old age and injury,

(7) organization of technical and vocational education,

(8) provision for child welfare and maternity protection, (9) housing and other facilities for workers.