What is Decent Work?

Since 1999 the ILO works according to the so called Decent Work Agenda. In the meantime the Decent Work Agenda has been widely accepted as an important strategy to fight poverty and foster development. The Agenda has been incorporated in the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.

In short the idea behind Decent Work is: 

• an income which allows the working individual a good life
• at work everybody has an equal chance to develop themselves, and discrimination does not occur
• there are proper and safe circumstances
  
• trade unions are allowed, a real say in work related matters is in place
• the state created a social safety net for the sick, weak, elderly and for expecting women

With the Decent Work Agenda the ILO and the UN address governments and the social partners. The international labour standards are laid down in ILO-Conventions.

What is ILO doing?

The ILO is the International Labour Organisation of the United Nations, since 1919. In the ILO negotiations are going on between governments of the member states, national trade unions and employer's associations regarding work related issues, labour law and social security. These negotiations may take years, but eventually lead to so called Conventions.

In Conventions minimum standards are laid down. Conventions are not the law, but the intention is that member states subscribe to the standard in question. The proper way to do that is have these Conventions ratified by parliament and then make national laws. National law can be enforced.

Most ILO-Conventions are accompanied by Recommendations on how to implement the standards. Countries can do more and better, but should not provide less protection than the Conventions prescribe.

• Work and Wages
• Work and Holidays
• Work during Holidays and Weekends
• If you have Children at School
• Maternity and Work
• Health and Safety at Work
• Work and Sickness
• Social Security
  
• Fair Treatment at Work
• Children at Work
• Forced Labour
• Trade Union Rights