FLASH REVISE CARDS - THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. The International Labour Organization (ILO) and its constituents – governments, employers, and workers – have collaborated for 100 years to promote social justice and peace. The decades have been turbulent. Reconstruction has followed destruction, yet imbalances between poverty and prosperity have persisted. New challenges have arisen once old ones were resolved. Navigating between deeply entrenched interests, often in contradiction, has required special skills. Through the work of the ILO, tripartite cooperation and social dialogue have become the accepted method to meet basic human needs, contributing to economic growth and guaranteeing the freedoms and rights of nations and of people.

1. League of Nations – Mr. D’s History – St. Peter’s College, Auckland, New Zealand
THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION
The International Labour Organization was founded at the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.
This organisation was created 102 years ago (1919-2021) and it was
established to bring together employers, governments and workers’
representatives once a year.
The ILO arose in the ravages of the Spanish flu and the ruins of the
first world war.
The preceding period had been one of profound social, economic, and
political upheaval. Increased competition, industrialisation and
unprecedented growth were achieved at the expense of workers.
Poverty, inequality, discrimination and poor conditions of work
meant that Europe was on the brink of unrest.
Staff at the first International Labour Conference in 1919 in Washington.
The ILO managed to bind the founding 44 national governments (the
ILO now has 187 member states) to basic labour rights and protections for
all workers.
The main aim of ILO was to improve the conditions of working
people throughout the world.
It collected statistics and information about working conditions and it
tried to persuade member countries to adopt its suggestions.

2. League of Nations – Mr. D’s History – St. Peter’s College, Auckland, New Zealand
The early decades of the ILO were arguably the most successful in the
organisation’s history.
ILO’s work started with a convention endorsing the long sought-after 48-
hour working week and a further 66 international labour standards agreed
before the outbreak of the second world war.
ILO managed to improve:
- the standards and employment rights concerned working age,
- maternity protection,
- occupational safety,
- compensation in the event of an accident,
- sickness insurance,
- holiday pay,
- old age insurance.
The beneficial effects for workers’ health and wellbeing were undeniable.
ILO is the first and oldest specialised agency of the UN.
The present logo (left); list of the Directors-General of ILO since its establishment in 1919 (right).
In 1969, the ILO received the Nobel Peace Prize for improving
fraternity and peace among nations, pursuing decent work and justice for
workers, and providing technical assistance to other developing countries.