International Labour Standards

International labour standards are legal instruments drawn up by the ILO's constituents (governments, employers and workers) and setting out basic principles and rights at work. They are either Conventions or Protocols, which are legally binding international treaties that may be ratified by member states, or Recommendations, which serve as non-binding guidelines. Read more about Conventions, Protocols and Recommendations

The development of international labour standards (ILS) at the ILO is a unique legislative process involving representatives of governments, workers and employers from throughout the world. How ILS are created

The Standards Review Mechanism (SRM) is a mechanism that is integral to the ILO’s standards policy with a view to ensuring that the ILO has a clear, robust and up-to-date body of standards that respond to the changing patterns of the world of work, for the purpose of the protection of workers and taking into account the needs of sustainable enterprises.

The Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group (SRM TWG) is mandated to review the ILO’s international labour standards with a view to making recommendations to the Governing Body on:

• the status of the standards examined, including up-to-date standards, standards in need of revision and outdated standards;
• the review of gaps in coverage, including those requiring new standards;
• practical and time-bound follow-up action, as appropriate.

See the dedicated page on the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group (SRM TWG)

Handbook of procedures relating to international labour Conventions and Recommendations (Centenary Edition 2019)
 

This handbook explains how the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopts and enforces Conventions and Recommendations. 

The main purpose of this handbook is to assist government officials responsible for implementing ILO standards. It outlines the procedures and practices for fulfilling obligations under the ILO Constitution and help worker and employer organizations, exercising their role in these procedures.