- Darvish tames Ohtani as Padres thrash Dodgers
- Asian markets track Wall St rally on jobs data
- Family affair as LeBron, Bronny James make Lakers bow
- Cancer, cardiovascular drugs tipped for Nobel as prize week opens
- As Great Salt Lake dries, Utah Republicans pardon Trump climate skepticism
- Amazon activist warns of 'critical situation' ahead of UN forum
- Mourners pay tribute to latest victims of deadly Channel crossing
- Phillies win thriller to level Mets series
- Yu bags first PGA Tour win with playoff win
- PSG held by Nice to leave Monaco clear at top of Ligue 1
- Lewandowski treble for leaders Barca as Atletico held
- Fresh Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Sucic stunner earns Real Sociedad draw against Atletico
- PSG draw with Nice, fail to reclaim top spot in Ligue 1
- Gudmundsson downs AC Milan after De Gea's penalty heroics for Fiorentina
- 'Yes' vote prevails in Kazakhstan nuclear plant vote: TV
- 'Difficult day': Oct 7 commemorations begin with festival memorial
- Commemorations begin for anniversary of attack on Israel
- 'Nothing gets in way of team,' says Celtics' MVP hopeful Tatum
- 'We will win!': Mozambique's ruling party confident at final vote rally
- Tunisia voting ends as Saied eyes re-election with critics behind bars
- Florida braces for Milton, FEMA head slams 'dangerous' Helene misinformation
- Postecoglou slams 'unacceptable' Spurs after 'terrible' loss at Brighton
- Marmoush double denies Bayern outright Bundesliga top spot
- Rallies worldwide call for Gaza, Lebanon ceasefire
- New 'Joker' film, a dark musical, tops N.America box office
- Man Utd stalemate keeps Ten Hag in danger, Spurs rocked by Brighton
- Drowned by hurricane, remote N.Carolina towns now struggle for water
- Vikings hold off Jets in London to stay unbeaten
- Ahead of attack anniversary, Netanyahu says: 'We will win'
- West Indies cruise to T20 World Cup win over Scotland
- Man Utd fire another blank in Aston Villa stalemate
- Lewandowski treble powers Liga leaders Barca to Alaves victory
- Russian activist killed on front line in Ukraine
- Openda strike briefly sends Leipzig top of Bundesliga
- Goal-shy Man Utd have to 'step up', says Ten Hag
- India bowl out Bangladesh for 127 in T20 opener
- Madueke rescues Chelsea in draw with 10-man Forest
- Beckett's belief rewarded as Bluestocking storms to Arc glory
- Trump on the stump, Harris hits airwaves in razor-edge US election
- Flash flooding kills three in northern Thailand
- Kaur leads India to victory over Pakistan in Women's T20 World Cup
- Juventus held by Cagliari after late penalty drama
- In France's Marseille, teen 'stabbed 50 times' then burned alive
- Ruthless Gauff beats Muchova in straight sets to win China Open
- India restrict Pakistan to 105-8 in Women's T20 World Cup
- England target repeat of Pakistan Test whitewash
- Penrith Panthers win fourth straight NRL title after downing Storm
- Weary Sinner happy for day off after battling into Shanghai last 16
- Pakistan's Masood warns England still a force without Stokes
UN labour agency: where workers' rights are set in concrete
The International Labour Organization, which chooses its next leader on Friday, is a UN agency born in the aftermath of World War I to promote workers' rights and social protection.
Founded in 1919, the ILO is the United Nations' oldest specialised agency, with 187 member states, which are, uniquely in the UN system, represented equally by governments, employers and workers.
Headquartered in Geneva, the ILO aims to promote rights at work, encourage good employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.
- A century of history -
The organisation was created in the Treaty of Versailles, the senior peace treaty that ended World War I.
It was founded, the ILO says, "to reflect the belief that universal and lasting peace can be accomplished only if it is based on social justice".
Its constitution was drafted by representatives from Belgium, Britain, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, Italy, Japan, Poland and the United States.
The International Labour Office -- the ILO's secretariat, comprising some 2,700 officials from more than 150 nations -- formulates international labour standards through legally-binding conventions, or guideline recommendations.
The organisation used to occupy the grand 1920s, classical Florentine-style Centre William Rappard on Lake Geneva -- now home to the World Trade Organization -- but moved to new-built offices in 1974 -- a vast, rationalist rectangular block made of grey concrete and steel.
The ILO won the Nobel Peace Prize on its 50th anniversary in 1969, and claims to have played a key role in the Great Depression, decolonisation, Poland's Solidarity movement and the fall of apartheid in South Africa.
Its logo dates back to 1968, showing the ILO letters in a cog wheel divided, like the organisation itself, into three parts, surrounded by the UN olive leaves.
Its working languages are English, French and Spanish.
- Laying down the law -
Thus far, 190 conventions, six protocols and 206 recommendations have been adopted, including eight "fundamental conventions".
These cover freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; the effective abolition of child labour; and the elimination of discrimination.
The convention banning the worst forms of child labour in 2020 became the ILO's first convention ever to be universally ratified.
The International Labour Conference, held each June at the Geneva headquarters, is the supreme body where treaties on working conditions are adopted and major social issues debated.
Workplace harassment, asbestos, night shifts, forced labour, maternity leave, occupational diseases, and the conditions of domestic workers are some of the topics thrashed out.
Recently the ILO has turned its focus on work during the Covid-19 pandemic, which triggered an economic crisis and saw millions shift to working from home.
The ILO also churns out statistics on the world of work, and provides technical help in the field, especially in developing countries.
- Investigations -
The organisation can also launch investigations, as it did in 2018 on Venezuela after the Venezuelan employers' union accused the government of imposing wage changes and economic measures without any consultation.
Fourteen such commissions of inquiry have been triggered throughout its history.
In addition, a UN committee of labour law experts evaluates the implementation of ILO conventions each year, country by country.
In its latest report published in February, the panel expressed deep concern over the treatment of ethnic and religious minorities in China, particularly in Xinjiang, and urged Beijing to change its ways.
The ILO has asked China for further information, and this year's International Labour Conference will study the issue, a spokeswoman said this week.
P.L.Madureira--PC