International Labour Organisation

On 11 April 1919, at the Versailles Peace Conference that ended the First World War, the founding of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) was approved. The work of the organisation is based on the ILO Constitution and other founding texts and declarations.

The ILO is the only international organisation in the world that specialises in labour and social relations, and acts by bringing together three parties – governments, employers and workers. This makes the organisation a unique forum where 187 member states can discuss labour standards and policies in trilateral cooperation.

The ILO is dedicated to advancing social justice and internationally recognised human rights, as well as labour rights. Some of the most important guidelines in the current activities of the ILO in this area is the Decent Work Agenda. It helps improve economic and labour conditions that would in turn encourage the contribution of both workers as well as employers to achieving broader peace, wellbeing and development.

The four main strategic goals of ILO are as follows:

In 2019, the ILO is celebrating its centenary and the main focus of the ILO annual conference is the Future of Work.

Estonia was a member of the ILO in 1921-1937 and restored its membership on 13 January 1992. The Permanent Representation of Estonia in Geneva is cooperating in the area of labour with the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs (here you can also find information about the Estonian ILO Council and the ILO conventions that are legally binding for Estonia, including the conventions ratified in 1922-1938 that continue to be legally binding for Estonia) and other partners of the trilateral format.

Estonia’s country profile in the ILO database