The ILO and Social Responsibility

1. The ILO and Social Responsibility Pr. Sophie Robin-Olivier Ecole de droit de la Sorbonne Université Paris I

2. Overview • History and constitutional basis of the ILO • ILO Missions • ILO new challenges Free Trade and Social Justice FairGlobalization / Decentwork

3. History 1919: the ILO iscreated in the wake of World war I and the bolshevikrevolution Basic ideas : • International cooperationisneeded to avoid national rivalry • Avoid the extension of the communistrevolution (linkedwithbadlabor conditions) • For socialist and Union leaders: the ILO is a way to establish an institutionallink for cross-bordersolidarity

4. Constitutional basis of the ILO • Initially : chapter XIII of the treaty of Versailles establishing the League of Nations « Universal peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice… » The treaty itself requires improvement of labour conditions, including working time regulation, prevention of unemployment, an adequate living wage…

5. Evolution • The League of Nations disappears at the end of the 1930’s • ILO becomes a separate entity, joined by the US in 1934 • Ambitious program: elaboration of labor standards (working hours, child labor, health and safety, maritime workers…)

6. Post warperiod • 1944: Philadelphia conference ILO becomes a UN agency Philadelphia Declaration of 1944 (incorporated in the ILO constitution) reaffirms the fondamental principles on which the organizationisbased

7. 4 major principles 1- Labor is not a commodity 2- Freedom of expression and association are essential to sustainedprogress 3- Povertyanywhereconstitutes a danger to prosperityeverywhere 4- Promotion of commonwelfareis to beensured by concerted international efforts by representatives of workers, employers and governments on an equal basis (=> trilateral organisation)

8. Post warevolution Adoption of important conventions on freedom of association, right to organize, right to collective bargaining 1948: Convention 87 1949: Convention 98 Thesetexts have a higherstatus (constitutional) All governments are supposed to respect them, even if theydid not ratifythem

9. 1950-1980 Cold war Various conventions are adopted + The ILO provides support to Unions in Poland, to workers in Latin American dictatorships, in South Africa…

10. 1989 and beyond • Fall of the Berlin wall opens new frontiers • New problems also: globalization and the impact on workers’rights • 1995: social summit in Copenhagen Social Justice becomes a more central objective on the international agenda

11. Missions of the ILO 1- Standard setting 2- Handling complaints 3- Technical assistance

12. 1- Standard setting 1) Conventions (189) Need ratifications to bebinding (US ratified 14 conventions, France, 104) The effect of ratification depends on national Constitutions

13. 1-Standard setting 2) 1998 Declaration on Fundamentalprinciples and rightsatwork « Core Labor Standards » Declaration Obligation for all States to respect, promote and realize a series of (4) fundamentalrights

14. Core Labor Standards • Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining • The elimination of all forms of forcedlabor • The effective abolition of childlabor • The elimination of discriminations in employment and occupation

15. Enforcement of Core Labor Standards • Annual report by all countries on 1 of the 4 standards (cycle) • General report drawnfrom national reports by the Director General = strictlypromotionalfollow-upmecanism

16. 2- Complaint handling 2 bodies: - Committee on Freedom of Association (for conventions 87 & 98) • Committee of experts on the application of conventions and recommendations -> examines annual reports made by governments on ratification progress & application of ratified conventions -> receives complaints filed by one government against another (or complaints by a union or an employer) for violation of a convention

17. 2- Complaint handling • Basis: documentary information provided by complainants and respondinggovernment + Factfinding missions (rare) • Result: reports and recommendations indicatingwhether a state does or not violate the convention (no real decisions)

18. Lack of enforcement power ? Is the ILO « toothless » ? Nuance: • The ECtHR or other courts make use of ILO Conventions & expert committeesinterpretations • Art 33 of the ILO Constitution Afterexhausting all otherpossibilities to bring the violator in compliancewith ILO obligations « the governing body mayrecommend to the conferencesuch action as itmaydeemwise & expedient to securecompliance » =>tradesanctions

19. Impact of Core Labour Standards? From hard to soft law ? Revitalization or retreat? DebatebetweenAlston, Maupain& Langille Questions about the impact of CLS • A reference in tradeagreements & codes of conduct or otherprivate initiative? • A risk of watering-down more precise and strongernorms? • Interpretation? • Impact on the race to the bottom? Unfaircompetition?

20. 3-Technical assistance Support to member states to: • Draftlegislation • Train labour inspectors • Develop job placement services for unemployed • Find alternatives to child labour…

21. 3-Technical assistance Examples • International program for the elimination of childlabor (IPEC) - US/Cambodiatrade agreement: ILO provides support for the laborside dimension of the trade agreement

22. ILO new challenges • Free Trade and Social Justice The social clause debate • FairGlobalization / Decentwork « ILO declaration on social justice for a Fairglobalization » (2008) « Decentwork » initiative (2002)