The ILO is the only tripartite UN agency, seating governments, employers and workers together

Background

The International Labour Organization describes itself as "the only tripartite U.N. agency, since 1919". It brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 Member States to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work. The ILO was created in 1919, as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I, on the founding belief that social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations and works from Geneva. Its tripartite structure gives an equal voice to workers, employers and governments in setting labour standards and shaping policies. Its governance runs through the International Labour Conference and the ILO Governing Body, and its standards are laid down in the ILO Constitution and in ILO Declarations. Its Regular Budget is funded from assessed contributions by Member States, based on the scale of assessments of the United Nations. At country level it works through Decent Work Country Programmes agreed with governments and with employers and workers organisations.