ILO & International Labour — Set 3

Correct Answer: B. 4

The ILO has 4 Priority or Governance Conventions, which are considered important for the functioning of the international labour standards system. These four conventions are: Employment Policy Convention (No. 122), Labour Inspection Convention (No. 81), Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention (No. 129), and Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention (No. 144). Member states are strongly encouraged to ratify these priority conventions to ensure effective governance of labour matters. India has ratified Convention No. 144 on Tripartite Consultation in 1978.

Correct Answer: B. Employment Policy

ILO Convention No. 122, adopted in 1964, deals with Employment Policy. It requires ratifying member states to declare and pursue, as a major goal, an active policy designed to promote full, productive, and freely chosen employment. The convention recognises that full employment is essential for raising living standards, developing human resources, and overcoming underdevelopment. It is one of the four Priority Governance Conventions of the ILO.

Correct Answer: B. Labour Inspection

ILO Convention No. 81, adopted in 1947, deals with Labour Inspection in Industry and Commerce. It requires member states to maintain a system of labour inspection for workplaces covered by the convention. The convention specifies the functions, organisation, and powers of labour inspectors. Labour inspection is essential for enforcing labour laws and ensuring that working conditions meet minimum standards. India ratified Convention No. 81 in 1949.

Correct Answer: D. Convention No. 144

ILO Convention No. 144, adopted in 1976, deals with Tripartite Consultation on International Labour Standards. It requires ratifying member states to operate procedures which ensure effective consultations between representatives of the government, employers, and workers on matters concerning ILO activities. India ratified Convention No. 144 in 1978, which is notable as India has not ratified Conventions No. 87 and 98 on freedom of association. The convention is one of the four Priority Governance Conventions.

Correct Answer: B. It reformed the ILO's constitution and annexed to it

The Declaration of Philadelphia, adopted in 1944 during the ILO's 26th session in Philadelphia, USA, reaffirmed the fundamental principles on which the ILO is based and set out the aims and purposes of the organisation. It was annexed to the ILO Constitution and became part of it. The declaration proclaimed that 'labour is not a commodity' and affirmed the right of all human beings to pursue their material well-being and spiritual development in conditions of freedom, dignity, economic security, and equal opportunity. This declaration shaped the ILO's post-World War II mission and vision.

Correct Answer: C. 1998

The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work was adopted in 1998 at the International Labour Conference. It reaffirmed the commitment of ILO member states to respect, promote, and realise the fundamental principles and rights at work, even if they have not ratified the relevant conventions. The declaration covers four categories of rights: freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, elimination of forced labour, abolition of child labour, and elimination of discrimination in employment. It also established a follow-up mechanism to monitor progress.

Correct Answer: C. 2019

The ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work was adopted in 2019, during the ILO's 100th anniversary. The declaration endorses a human-centred approach to the future of work that places the needs and rights of all working people at the heart of economic, social, and environmental policy. It addresses the challenges and opportunities created by technological change, demographic shifts, climate change, and globalisation. The Centenary Declaration reaffirmed the ILO's commitment to social justice as the foundation for sustainable peace and development.

Correct Answer: C. 4

The ILO's Decent Work Agenda is built on four strategic pillars: employment creation, social protection, rights at work, and social dialogue. These four pillars provide an integrated framework for advancing decent work for all. The concept of Decent Work was first articulated by ILO Director-General Juan Somavia in his 1999 report to the International Labour Conference. Decent Work is also central to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8, which calls for 'Decent Work and Economic Growth.'

Correct Answer: C. SDG 8

SDG 8 – 'Decent Work and Economic Growth' – directly aligns with the ILO's Decent Work agenda. SDG 8 aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The ILO plays a leading role in monitoring and advancing SDG 8 globally. The ILO's work on labour standards, employment promotion, social protection, and social dialogue all contribute to achieving the targets under SDG 8.

Correct Answer: B. International Programme on Elimination of Child Labour

IPEC stands for the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, launched by the ILO in 1992. It was the world's largest programme fighting child labour and worked to progressively eliminate child labour by strengthening national capacities to address child labour problems. IPEC operated in more than 88 countries and collaborated with governments, employers' and workers' organisations, and civil society. In 2019, IPEC was succeeded by the Alliance 8.7, which is a global partnership committed to taking urgent action to eradicate forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking, and child labour.