ILO & International Labour — Set 6

Correct Answer: B. Annex

The Declaration of Philadelphia (1944) was annexed to the ILO Constitution as an annex, making it an integral part of the constitution. The Declaration reaffirmed and expanded the fundamental principles on which the ILO is based, and set out the aims and purposes of the organisation. It proclaimed that labour is not a commodity, that freedom of expression and association are essential to sustained progress, and that poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere. The Declaration gave the ILO a broader social and economic mandate beyond just labour standards.

Correct Answer: D. 187

The ILO has 187 member states as of recent years, making it one of the most universally representative international organisations. Almost all members of the United Nations are also members of the ILO. The ILO's near-universal membership reflects the global recognition of the importance of labour standards and workers' rights. Member states participate in the ILO's tripartite governance structure and are expected to implement the organisation's standards and programmes.

Correct Answer: C. 1992

IPEC (International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour) was launched by the ILO in 1992 with Germany as the initial donor. It began with six countries but expanded rapidly to become the world's largest programme dedicated to combating child labour. IPEC worked by building national capacities to address child labour and collaborating with governments, employers' and workers' organisations, civil society, and international organisations. The programme made significant contributions to reducing child labour globally over its two decades of operation.

Correct Answer: A. USA

The USA was among the early major donors to ILO's IPEC programme after its launch with Germany as initial donor in 1992. The United States contributed significantly to IPEC through its Department of Labor, which funded numerous projects to combat child labour globally. The US partnership with ILO on child labour issues has been an important component of American labour diplomacy. This support helped IPEC expand its operations to dozens of countries worldwide and develop effective methodologies for combating child labour.

Correct Answer: B. Philadelphia Declaration (1944)

The principle that 'labour is not a commodity' was formally declared in the Declaration of Philadelphia in 1944 as the first fundamental principle of the ILO. This principle asserts that human labour cannot be treated as a mere factor of production to be bought and sold like goods. While the idea was present in earlier ILO thinking, the Philadelphia Declaration gave it explicit and authoritative recognition. This principle underpins the ILO's entire approach to labour standards and decent work.

Correct Answer: B. Guy Ryder

Guy Ryder of the United Kingdom served as ILO Director-General from 2012 until 2022, immediately preceding Gilbert Houngbo. Ryder was elected as the ILO's ninth Director-General in 2012 and re-elected for a second term in 2017. Before becoming Director-General, he served as Director of the ILO's Bureau for Workers' Activities. Ryder was a strong advocate for social justice, multilateralism, and the Decent Work Agenda throughout his tenure.

Correct Answer: C. 56

The ILO Governing Body consists of 56 titular members: 28 representing governments, 14 representing employers, and 14 representing workers. In addition, there are 66 deputy members (28 government, 19 employer, and 19 worker). Ten of the government seats are reserved for states of chief industrial importance (including India). The Governing Body elects its own officers and its chairperson and deputy chairpersons represent the three groups.

Correct Answer: A. SAFEWORK

The ILO's SAFEWORK programme is responsible for promoting occupational safety and health globally. SAFEWORK provides standards, information, research, and technical assistance to help countries prevent work-related accidents, injuries, and diseases. The programme supports the implementation of ILO conventions related to occupational safety and health, such as Convention No. 155 (Occupational Safety and Health Convention). SAFEWORK also promotes the adoption of Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems as a means to continuously improve workplace safety performance.

Correct Answer: B. The involvement of three parties: governments, employers, and workers in decision-making

Tripartism in the ILO context refers to the involvement of three parties – governments, employers, and workers – in the development and implementation of labour policy and standards. This is the defining characteristic of the ILO and distinguishes it from all other international organisations. The tripartite structure ensures that those who create and implement labour policies (governments), those who hire workers (employers), and those who work (workers' representatives) all have a voice in shaping international labour standards. Social dialogue between these three parties is considered essential for achieving fair and effective labour outcomes.

Correct Answer: B. 1958

India ratified ILO Convention No. 100 on Equal Remuneration in 1958. This convention requires member states to ensure the application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value. India subsequently enacted the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, which gives effect to this principle in domestic law. The ratification of Convention No. 100 was a significant step towards gender equality in India's labour market, though challenges in implementation have persisted.