what is ilo

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations with a mandate to advance social and economic justice by setting international labor standards. It was founded in 1919 and has a tripartite governing structure that brings together governments, employers, and workers of 187 member states to set labor standards, develop policies, and devise programs promoting decent work for all women and men. The ILO is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland and is a major provider of labor statistics, maintaining several databases and publishing compilations of labor statistics. Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection, and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues. The organization also works under the theme of Preventing HIV, Protecting Human Rights at Work, and undertakes a range of policy advisory, research, and technical activities in this regard. The ILO is dedicated to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labor rights, and it offers expertise and knowledge about the world of work acquired over more than 90 years of responding to the needs of people everywhere for decent work, livelihoods, and dignity.