What is the structure of ILO? How does it function?
The ILO functions through three main organs. You have the International Labour Conference, which is really the topmost organ of the organization. It meets annually, and approves the policies and the convention. We set standards in how things should be done in different areas of our work. Those standards and conventions are approved by the International Labour Conference which meets every year. Then you have the governing body, which is the executive council of the organization. It is the one that formulates the policies which are then approved by the International Labour Conference. They also develop programme and budget on an annual basis. The governing body meets, I think, three or four times a year. But it is tripartite in composition. That is one point which I need to emphasize. Tripartite in composition in a sense . . .? It means that it consists of the government representative, the workers’ representative, and the employers’ representative. This is a very unique UN agency. It is
