List of International Labour Organization Conventions
The list of International Labour Organization Conventions contains 190 codifications of world wide labour standards. International Labour Organization Conventions are developed through tripartite negotiations between member state representatives from trade unions, employers' organisations and governments, and adopted by the annual International Labour Conference. Member state governments subsequently ratify Conventions and incorporate their provisions into national legislation.
The first Convention was adopted in 1919 and covers hours of work, Convention, adopted in 2019, covers violence and harassment in the world of work. The Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, adopted by the member states in 1998, identified eight fundamental Conventions as binding on all members; four prohibit forced labour and child labour, and four provide rights to organize, to collectively bargain, to equal pay and to freedom from discrimination at work.
The ILO monitors the application of the Conventions and makes observations regarding member state compliance, however, there are no enforcement mechanisms within the ILO for non-compliance or breaches of the Conventions. The enforcement of Conventions is solely dependent upon the jurisprudence of courts recognized by the respective member states.
Classification of the Conventions
The ILO classifies Conventions by type, subject and status.- Type relates to whether the Convention is fundamental, covers governance matters or is technical.
- Subjects covered by the Conventions:
- # Individual rights at work, mainly on safety, wage standards, working time, or social security, and the rights to freedom from forced to work or work during childhood.
- # Collective labour rights to participation in the workplace, particularly to join a trade union, collectively bargain and take strike action, as well as direct representation within the management of organizations.
- # Rights to equal treatment, that are referential to the terms and conditions of people in comparable situations, with special protections for indigenous communities and migrants.
- # Promotion of job security, through standards for dismissals, protection upon an employer's insolvency, regulation of employment agencies and requirements upon member states to promote full and fulfilling employment.
- # Requirements for administrative apparatus by governments to enforce and promote labour standards, through inspections, the collection of statistics, training and consulting with unions and employers before the passage of legislation.
- # Sectoral Conventions specific to certain industries, these include seafaring, fishing, plantations, hotels, nursing, home and domestic work, where employees may be particularly vulnerable.
- Status relates to whether a Convention is up to date, requires revision or has been abrogated.
List of the Conventions
| 1. Labour rights | 2. Workplace participation | 3. Equality | 4. Job security | 5. Administration |
| Convention | No. | Content | Ratif | Subject |
| Forced Labour Convention, 1930 | Obligation for members to "completely suppress such forced or compulsory labour", with exceptions for military, civil service, court orders, for emergencies and minor communal orders. | 177 | 1. Servitude | |
| Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 | The right to autonomy in union organisation, for furthering and defending workers' interests by collective bargaining and collective action. | 154 | 2. Unions | |
| Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 | Protection against discrimination for joining a trade union, promotion of voluntary collective agreements, taking collective action. | 165 | 2. Unions | |
| Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 | The right to equal pay, without any discrimination on grounds of gender. | 173 | 3. Equality | |
| Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 | Positive obligation on member states to ensure that all forced labour is abolished. | 174 | 1. Servitude | |
| Discrimination Convention, 1958 | The right to not be discriminated against on grounds of "race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin", or other grounds determined by member states, in employment. | 175 | 3. Equality | |
| Minimum Age Convention, 1973 | The requirement that people are at least 15, or a higher age determined by member states, or 14 for member states whose education systems are developing, before working, and 18 years old before dangerous work. | 170 | 1. Children | |
| Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 | Duties upon member states to identify and take steps to prohibit the worst forms of child labour. | 181 | 1. Children | |
| Weekly Rest Convention, 1921 | 119 | 1. Working time | ||
| Medical Examination of Young Persons Convention, 1946 | 43 | 1. Safety | ||
| Medical Examination of Young Persons Convention, 1946 | 39 | 1. Safety | ||
| Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 | Also, Protocol of 1995 to the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 P081. | 146 | 5. Administration | |
| Labour Clauses Convention, 1949 | 62 | 1. Wages | ||
| Protection of Wages Convention, 1949 | 97 | 1. Wages | ||
| Migration for Employment Convention, 1949 | 49 | 3. Migrant workers | ||
| Social Security Convention, 1952 | 48 | 1. Social security | ||
| Weekly Rest Convention, 1957 | 63 | 1. Working time | ||
| Plantations Convention, 1958 | Also, Protocol of 1982 to the Plantations Convention, 1958, P110. | 12 | Specific | |
| Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 | 50 | 1. Safety | ||
| Equality of Treatment Convention, 1962 | 38 | 3. Equality | ||
| Hygiene Convention, 1964 | 51 | 1. Safety | ||
| Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 | 24 | 1. Social security | ||
| Employment Policy Convention, 1964 | Requirement to develop "co-ordinated economic and social policy"" for the aim of full employment. | 107 | 4. Unemployment | |
| Medical Examination of Young Persons Convention, 1965 | 41 | 1. Safety | ||
| Invalidity, Old-Age and Survivors' Benefits Convention, 1967 | 16 | 1. Social security | ||
| Labour Inspection Convention, 1969 | 53 | 5. Administration | ||
| Medical Care and Sickness Benefits Convention, 1969 | 16 | 1. Safety | ||
| Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 | 51 | 1. Wages | ||
| Workers' Representatives Convention, 1971 | Requires that worker representatives suffer no detriment or dismissal, they are given facilities to carry out tasks including trade union and other elected representatives in an undertaking and elected representatives' positions should in no way be used to undermine trade union representatives. | 84 | 2. Representation | |
| Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 | 41 | 1. Safety | ||
| Paid Educational Leave Convention, 1974 | 34 | 1. Working time | ||
| Rural Workers' Organisations Convention, 1975 | 41 | 2. Unions | ||
| Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 | 68 | 5. Administration | ||
| Migrant Workers Convention, 1975 | 23 | 3. Migrant workers | ||
| Tripartite Consultation Convention, 1976 | 145 | 5. Administration | ||
| Continuity of Employment Convention, 1976 | 17 | Seafarers | ||
| Seafarers' Annual Leave with Pay Convention, 1976 | 17 | Seafarers | ||
| Merchant Shipping Convention, 1976 | Also, Protocol of 1996 to the Merchant Shipping Convention, 1976, P147. | 56 | Seafarers | |
| Working Environment Convention, 1977 | 46 | 1. Safety | ||
| Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 | 41 | Specific | ||
| Labour Administration Convention, 1978 | 76 | 5. Administration | ||
| Labour Relations Convention, 1978 | 53 | 2. Representation | ||
| Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1979 | 27 | 1. Safety | ||
| Collective Bargaining Convention, 1981 | 48 | 2. Unions | ||
| Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 | Also, Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981, P155. | 67 | 1. Safety | |
| Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 | 44 | 3. Equality | ||
| Maintenance of Social Security Rights Convention, 1982 | 4 | 1. Social security | ||
| Termination of Employment Convention, 1982 | Requirement for employers to give a good reason before dismissing a worker. No conclusions on revision. | 36 | 4. Fair dismissal | |
| Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Convention, 1983 | 83 | 3. Equality | ||
| Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 | 50 | 5. Administration | ||
| Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 | 33 | 1. Safety | ||
| Asbestos Convention, 1986 | 35 | 1. Safety | ||
| Seafarers' Welfare Convention, 1987 | 18 | Seafarers | ||
| Health Protection and Medical Care Convention, 1987 | 15 | Seafarers | ||
| Social Security Convention, 1987 | 3 | Seafarers | ||
| Repatriation of Seafarers Convention, 1987 | 14 | Seafarers | ||
| Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 | 32 | 1. Safety | ||
| Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment Convention, 1988 | 8 | 4. Unemployment | ||
| Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 | The right of indigenous and tribal communities to participate in decision making procedures. | 22 | 3. Indigenous | |
| Chemicals Convention, 1990 | 21 | 1. Safety | ||
| Night Work Convention, 1990 | 17 | 1. Safety | ||
| Working Conditions Convention, 1991 | 16 | Specific | ||
| Protection of Workers' Claims Convention, 1992 | 21 | 4. Insolvency | ||
| Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents Convention, 1993 | 18 | 1. Safety | ||
| Part-Time Work Convention, 1994 | 17 | 3. Equality | ||
| Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 | 33 | 1. Safety | ||
| Home Work Convention, 1996 | 10 | Specific | ||
| Labour Inspection Convention, 1996 | 15 | Seafarers | ||
| Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers Convention, 1996 | 10 | Seafarers | ||
| Seafarers' Hours of Work and the Manning of Ships Convention, 1996 | 21 | Seafarers | ||
| Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 | 27 | 4. Agencies | ||
| Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 | 34 | 3. Equality | ||
| Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 | 16 | 1. Safety | ||
| Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention, 2003 | 35 | Seafarers | ||
| Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 | 90 | Seafarers | ||
| Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 | 46 | 1. Safety | ||
| Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 | 13 | Specific | ||
| Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 | 27 | Specific | ||
| Hours of Work Convention, 1919 | 52 | 1. Working time | ||
| Unemployment Convention, 1919 | Positive obligation on member states to establish and maintain public employment agencies. | 57 | 4. Unemployment | |
| Maternity Protection Convention, 1919 | 34 | 1. Child care | ||
| Right of Association Convention, 1921 | 127 | 2. Unions | ||
| Workmen's Compensation Convention, 1921 | 77 | 1. Wages | ||
| Equality of Treatment Convention, 1925 | 121 | 3. Equality | ||
| Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention, 1928 | 104 | 1. Wages | ||
| Hours of Work Convention, 1930 | 30 | 1. Working time | ||
| Underground Work Convention, 1935 | 98 | 1. Safety | ||
| Forty-Hour Week Convention, 1935 | 15 | 1. Working time | ||
| Officers' Competency Certificates Convention, 1936 | 53 | Seafarers | ||
| Minimum Age Convention, 1936 | 51 | Seafarers | ||
| Right of Association Convention, 1947 | 9 | 2. Unions | ||
| Labour Inspectorates Convention, 1947 | 11 | 5. Administration | ||
| Employment Service Convention, 1948 | 91 | 4. Unemployment | ||
| Night Work Convention, 1948 | 67 | 1. Working time | ||
| Accommodation of Crews Convention, 1949 | 47 | Seafarers | ||
| Fee-Charging Employment Agencies Convention, 1949 | 42 | 4. Agencies | ||
| Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery Convention, 1951 | 53 | 1. Wages | ||
| Social Policy Convention, 1962 | 32 | 1. Social security | ||
| Holidays with Pay Convention, 1970 | 36 | 1. Working time | ||
| Accommodation of Crews Convention, 1970 | 32 | Seafarers | ||
| Dock Work Convention, 1973 | 25 | Seafarers |