International Labour Standards (ILS) are instruments drawn up by the ILO that set out basic principles and rights at work. ILS can take the form of conventions, which are legally binding treaties that countries can ratify, protocols to supplement existing conventions, or recommendations which are non-binding guidelines. All ILO member states must submit reports on their implementation of ILS, regardless of whether they have ratified the conventions.

1. INTERNATIONAL LABOUR
STANDARDS (ILS)

2. International Labour Standards (ILS) are
instruments drawn up by the ILO’s constituents
(governments, employers and workers) that set out
basic principles and rights at work.
What are ILS?

3. To give effect to a certain ILS, it must be adopted
by the International Labour Conference. (ILC)
REMEMBER

4. A CONVENTION is a legally binding treaty and is
open for ratification for member States. Currently,
there are 189 ILO Conventions.
FORMS OF ILS

5. A PROTOCOL is a legally binding treaty to
supplement or update an existing Convention.
However, this can only be ratified by a member
State who ratified the mother Convention.
Currently there are six (6) Protocols.
FORMS OF ILS

6. A RECOMMENDATION is a set of non-binding
guidelines which are not open for ratification.
Currently there are 203 ILO Recommendations.
FORMS OF ILS

7. All member States are obliged to submit reports
on the implementation of the said ILS, regardless
of the ratification status.
REMEMBER

8. Standards are adopted by a two-thirds majority
vote of the ILO’s constituents to ensure that one
expresses universally acknowledged principles.
HOW ARE ILS FORMED?

9. Most standards have been formulated in a manner
that makes them flexible enough to be translated
into national law and practice with due
consideration of these differences.
HOW ARE ILS FORMED?

10. Other standards have so-called "flexibility" clauses
allowing states to lay down temporary standards
that are lower than those normally prescribed, to
exclude certain categories of workers from the
application of a convention, or to apply only
certain parts of the instrument.
HOW ARE ILS FORMED?

11. ILS covers a wide range of topics, ranging from
freedom of association and collective bargaining
and industrial relations, to wages. Full listing can
be accessed at:
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:120
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SUBJECT OF ILS