![ILO building in Geneva](/https/www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/styles/hero_basic_desktop/public/2024-02/ILO%20building%202048.jpg.webp?itok=ebZcnPLS)
About the ILO
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace.
The only tripartite U.N. agency, since 1919 the ILO brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 Member States, to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.
How the ILO works
![International Labour Conference, June 2023 session](/https/www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/styles/cards_4_desktop/public/2024-04/52955510050_6f9bb6b68f_k_0.jpg.webp?itok=IcZGsuGU)
International Labour Conference
![International Labour Conference, June 2023 session](/https/www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/styles/cards_4_desktop/public/2024-04/53567669570_fd889173e1_k.jpg.webp?itok=qfwqL5gN)
ILO Governing Body
![ILO Director-General Gilbert F Houngbo](/https/www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/styles/cards_4_desktop/public/2024-04/51960182333_a0019fa0fe_k.jpg.webp?itok=MWAuifWV)
ILO Director-General
![ILO organizational chart in PDF](/https/www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/styles/cards_4_desktop/public/2024-04/wcms_866534%20ILO%20organizational%20chart.jpg.webp?itok=-jT0vyQY)
ILO organizational structure
![Three symbolic keys representing tripartism](/https/www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/styles/multilink_card_desktop/public/2024-03/ILO-three-keys-tripartism-767x512.jpg.webp?itok=fyl-oBUB)
Tripartism
![Three symbolic keys representing tripartism](/https/www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/styles/multilink_card_desktop/public/2024-03/ILO-three-keys-tripartism-767x512.jpg.webp?itok=fyl-oBUB)
The unique tripartite structure of the ILO gives an equal voice to workers, employers and governments to ensure that the views of the social partners are closely reflected in labour standards and in shaping policies and programmes.
![Construction women workers in Palpa, Nepal](/https/www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/styles/multilink_card_desktop/public/2024-04/53616347268_cfb7f60af2_k.jpg.webp?itok=tlgqi75n)
Partnerships
![Construction women workers in Palpa, Nepal](/https/www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/styles/multilink_card_desktop/public/2024-04/53616347268_cfb7f60af2_k.jpg.webp?itok=tlgqi75n)
The ILO partners to enhance policy coherence and mobilize resources to realize social justice and decent work. Development cooperation is a key means of action that helps to improve peoples’ livelihoods and produce decent and productive jobs.
Reference documents
ILO Constitution
ILO Declarations
Managing for results
Accountability and transparency
Reliable and regularly updated financial and results data are an essential component of informing, monitoring, reporting and evaluating progress towards achieving decent work for all and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a results-driven organization, the ILO uses open data to share progress on performance with its constituents, partners and the broader public. The ILO sees transparency as part of the larger process of informed governance and organizational learning. Transparency makes the ILO a reliable partner and ensures its accountability.
Work with us
![ILO staff walking in the ILO colonnades](/https/www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/styles/cards_2_desktop/public/2024-04/ILO-Jobs-colonnades-blurred-image-843x521.png.webp?itok=KFjjgpA8)
Employment opportunities
![ILO Headquarters building, Geneva](/https/www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/styles/cards_2_desktop/public/2024-04/50374329698_0d12bcd5cb_k.jpg.webp?itok=phrV4sAS)
Procurement
![Historical image, 1921, ILC 3rd Session - Commission on Weekly Rest.jpg](/https/www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/styles/hero_basic_desktop/public/2024-04/1921-ILC-3rd-Session-Commission-on-Weekly-Rest-2000x1300.jpg.jpg?itok=dOVOUNUd)
History of the ILO
The ILO was created in 1919, as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I, to reflect the belief that universal and lasting peace can be accomplished only if it is based on social justice.