The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is a United Nations specialised agency, founded in 1919 under the aegis of the Treaty of Versailles, which brought World War I to an end. It was created on the basis of humanitarian, economic and political arguments in favour of the elaboration and controlled application of international labour standards.From the outset, it was the result of in-depth re ection on the humanand social impact of the industrial revolution. The idea of an International Labour Law emerged at the start of the 19th century. Some renowned industrialists, among them Robert Owen and Daniel Le Grand, supported the idea of progressionist legislation in the social and labour domain. By the end of the century, this aspiration was strengthened by the growing trade union movement that demanded democratic rights and decent living conditions for workers.
The initial argument was, thus, humanitarian in nature. The conditions to which workers and their families were subjected were increasingly intolerable. That concern is clearly expressed in the preamble of the ILO Constitution, according to which “conditions of labour exist involving such injustice, hardship and privation to large numbers of people...”
The second argument was related to economic aspects, which we would nowadays call the regulation of globalisation to combat social dumping.By virtue of the inevitable e ects of a social reform of production costs,any economic sector or country that tried to implement it would be at a disadvantage to their competitors. International legislation would thus allow the same rules to be established for all, avoiding unfair competition. The preamble of the Constitution also states that “the failure of any nation to adopt humane conditions of labour is an obstacle in the way of other nations which desire to improve the conditions in their own countries.”
The third argument was political in nature. Peace, both at global and national level, involved social justice, as established in the ILO Constitution: “Whereas universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice.” On the other hand, if living and working conditions didn’t improve, the growing working class would insist on claiming their rights, with the inherent risk of social upheaval. The preamble thus mentions that injustice produces “unrest so great that the peace and harmony of the world are imperilled.”
All these arguments come together in the post-war negotiation process. Indeed, the ILO Constitution was written, between January and April 1919, by the Commission on International Labour Legislation, and integrated as Part XIII of the Treaty of Versailles. Portugal, as a signatory, is a founding member of the ILO.
In 1944, the International Labour Conference (ILC) adopted the Declaration of Philadelphia which, as an annex to the Constitution, still constitutes the ILO’s Charter of Aims and Objectives. This Declaration anticipated and served as a model for the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It reasserted that “labour is not a commodity.”
The ILO became the rst United Nations specialised agency in 1946 andis the only one with a tripartite structure. In other words, the ILO brings together government, employer and worker representatives from 187 member states with a view to adopting international labour standards, elaborating policies and devising programmes within the framework of its objectives.
The ILO was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969. During its lifetime,the Organisation has repeatedly shown creativity and a remarkable capacity for adapting to change. Now, as it celebrates its centenary, it is heading discussions on the Future of Work.
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