GENEVA, Switzerland, (ILO News) – The ILO has intensified efforts to strengthen its system for supervising the application of international labour standards (ILS) in the last decade. Its latest addition to the toolbox is now available on-line: a guide on established practices across the supervisory system . Access through a mobile application is set to follow. In November 2017, the ILO Governing Body approved the preparation of a guide on established practices across the supervisory system as part of a comprehensive workplan for strengthening the ILO supervisory system.
The ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work (2019) reaffirmed that the setting, promotion, ratification and supervision of ILS is of fundamental importance to the Organization. This requires the ILO, in its second centenary, to have and promote a clear, robust, up-to-date body of ILS and ensure their effective application is subject to a transparent, authoritative and effective system of supervision. ILS need to respond to the changing patterns of the world of work, for the purpose of the protection of workers and taking into account the needs of sustainable enterprises. The ILO must assist its member States in the ratification and effective application of ILS.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not suspended the application of ILS, which remain the tried-and-trusted foundation for policy responses also in times of crises. As the focus shifts to a human-centred recovery from the COVID-19 crisis that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient, respect for ILS, and promoting their ratification, implementation and supervision should be reinforced. In a Global Call to Action (2021) for such human-centred recovery, governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations collectively committed to paying particular attention to areas where serious gaps have been revealed by the crisis.
Inspired by this vision, the guide presents the functioning of the supervisory system in relation to the application of ILS. It hopes to realize transparency in established practices across the supervisory system, thus ensuring a level playing field of knowledge for governments, employers, workers and their organizations. Since tripartism is integral to the system of supervision, the guide does not only explain the main steps of each procedure, but also provides details on each step from the perspective of each group of constituents.
The guide is an evolving tool and will be updated regularly to reflect the evolution of the supervisory system for achieving progress and social justice. Users are encouraged to direct comments or queries to ils@itcilo.org and infonorm@ilo.org
