International trade union rights
Trade Union Rights
International Trade Union right’s are universal as they are
deemed to be vital to a fair and decent society. These rights were
first enshrined at the global level by the International Labour
Organisation which was founded in 1919. In 1948 these rights were
then adopted by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.
International Labour Organisation
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is the
international body that seeks to strengthen workers rights globally
by improving working conditions and living conditions through an
international labour standard code that take forms in a Convention.
Adoption of these Conventions by two or more nations gives the
Convention international treaty status. Ratification of the
Convention is voluntary; governments are required to submit reports
detailing their compliance with the obligations of the Conventions
they ratify.
The topics covered by the various International Labor
Standards cover a wide range of issues from workers' Freedom of
Association’, to Health and Safety at work, working conditions in
the maritime industry, night work, discrimination, child labor and
forced labor.
The application of these Conventions strengthens the rights of
workers around the world and reduces the negative effects of
globalisation. Without mechanisms to support fundamental workers
rights this will lead workers in a ‘race to the bottom’ where
corporations and national governments will put workers rights,
wages & conditions, welfare benefits and other social and
environmental protections up for sale in the name of
competition.
This ethos is based on the notion that social progress goes hand in hand with economic
progress and development.Economic growth
alone is not enough to ensure equity, social progress and to
eradicate poverty.
Aims and Purpose for
International Labour Organisation
The aims and purposes of the International Labour Organisation
declared on the 10 May 1944 in Philadelphia include the
following:
- Labour is not a commodity
- Freedom of expression and association are essential to
sustained progress
- Poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity
- War against want requires relentless vigor in each nation and
continuous concerted international effort
Basic Workers rights
Eight main ILO Labour Conventions form the basis for trade
union activism in the 175 member countries;
Convention No. 87 and 98
Rights to Freedom of Association and Collective
Bargaining
Convention No. 29 and 105
Abolition of Forced Labor
Convention No.100 and 111
Prevention of Discrimination in the Employment and Equal Pay
for equal value of
Convention No. 138 and 182
Abolition of Child Labour
Convention No. 155 and 161
Occupational Safety and Health and Services
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