ILO & Social Security

Established on 19th April 1919 by Versailles peace conference as an autonomous body with League of Nations for the promotion of universal peace through social justice.

The ILO was the only international organisation that survived the Second World War even after the dissolution of its parent body. It became the first specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946 in accordance with an agreement entered into between the two organizations. India has been a member of the ILO since its inception. The unique feature of ILO is that it is a tripartite body consisting of representatives of

Employers,
Labour & Government

Objectives of ILO
Full employment & raising of standards of living. The employment of workers in the occupation in which they can have the satisfaction of giving the fullest measure of their skill & make their contribution to common well being. Provision for child welfare & maternity protection. The provision of adequate nutrition, housing & facilities for recreation & culture. The assurance of educational & vocational opportunity. Adequate protection for life & health of workers in all occupation Policies in regard to wages & earnings, bonus & a minimum living wages to all employed The effective recognition for right of collective bargaining The extension S/S measures to provide a basis income to all in need of such protection & comprehensive medical care.

Functions of ILO

Some important areas of ILO activities & field of operations are

1.Migrant workers- the ILO adopted a resolution in June 1972 on need to promote equality of migrants workers in all social labour matter.

2.Women workers-ILO aims in regard to women workers namelypromoting expectant mothers, limiting the amount of night work, full opportunity to improves their education, better conditions for finding employment, equal pay for equal working conditions, legal maternity protection, legal protection against economic exploitation ,same trade union rights as that of men

3.Child welfare ILO has played a key role in fight against exploitation of children by setting standards, regulating the minimum age for admission to work & recruitment of youngsters into unhealthy & dangerous job.

4.It trains people in solving labour problems in their countries. 5.It organizes regional conferences every year. 6.It carries out the research studies on labour problems throughout the world & publishes its findings in the form of books & magazines

7.It gives expert advice to member countries in making plans for improving their labour conditions

Role of ILO in Social Security

The ILO (International Labor Organization) was set up in the year 1919; with an aim to improve the conditions of labors around the world. India was the founding member of ILO, which has now expanded its membership to 145 nations. ILO through its conventions(legally binding obligations) and recommendations(non-binding and set out guidelines orienting national policies) helps nations to draw their own set of labor laws for the better treatment of the working class, and the preservation of their rights.

After the International Labor Organization (ILO) was formed in 1919, the Factories Act was amended and thereafter repealed, resulting in the promulgation of the Factories Act 1934. It makes provision for safety, health and hygiene of the workers and special provision for women and juvenile workers. It also prohibits child labor. It limits work of a child in factories, including the seasonal ones. Under the Mines Act 1923 which applies to workers employed in mines, the hours of work for persons employed on surface are limited to ten per day and fifty four per week. The periods of work including rest interval shall not spread over more than 12 hours in any day. For workers employed underground, the daily limit is nine hours per day. The Act does not contain provisions as to overtime work. No worker is to work in a mine for more than six days a week. The Act does not provide for wages for the weekly rest day.

The government of India set up an enquiry committee in 1926 to ascertain the loophole for irregularity of payment of wages to industrial workers. The Royal Commission on Labor appointed in 1929 considered the reports and suggestions of the aforesaid enquiry committee Payment of Wages Act in 1936.

The Weekly Holidays Act of 1942 prescribes one paid holiday a week for persons employed in any shop, restaurant or theatre (excepting those employed in a confidential capacity or in a position of management). The government is empowered to grant additional half-day holiday with pay in a week. The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 came into being on the 1st day of April 1947. The Act provided for establishment of industrial tribunals by the appropriate government in British India. It established a full-fledged industrial tribunal for adjudication of industrial disputes for the first time