ILO governing body to discuss major world of work issues

The Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) will review basic labour rights, social protection issues, technical cooperation approaches and sectoral activities around the globe, during its 319^th session that starts on October 16.

The 16-day session aims at discussing a series of employment and social issues that are affecting the world of work today.
Before ending on October 31, the Governing Body will also discuss the follow-up to the Oslo Declaration adopted by the ILO’s ninth European Regional meeting in Oslo last April, including ILO assistance to Eurozone countries recovering from the crisis. It will also examine complaints about violations of freedom of association around the globe.

The body is expected also to discuss a strategy for a wider engagement of the ILO with business and the private sector; the outcome of the recent United Nations General Assembly High-Level Dialogue on International Migration; progress in making decent work for domestic workers and seafarers a reality; and the contribution that employment and social policy can make to global economic recovery.
It is the executive body of the International Labour Office that is the secretariat of the ILO. It meets three times a year, in March, June and October and takes decisions on ILO policy, the agenda of the International Labour Conference and the draft Programme and Budget of the Organisation for submission to the Conference.
The body is composed of 56 titular members – including 28 governments, 14 employers and 14 Workers – and 66 deputy members – including 28 governments, 19 Employers and 19 Workers – in the team.

Ten of the titular government seats are permanently held by States of chief industrial importance – Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the UK and the US – and the other government members are elected by the Conference every three years.