How International Labour Standards are created
International labour standards evolve from a growing international concern that action needs to be taken on a particular issue, such as providing working women with maternity protection, or ensuring safe working conditions for agricultural workers.
- As a first step, the Governing Body agrees to put an issue on the agenda of a future International Labour Conference.
- The International Labour Office prepares a report that analyses the law and practice of member States with regard to the issue at stake.
- The report is communicated to member States and to workers’ and employers’ organizations for comments and is then submitted to the International Labour Conference for a first discussion.
- A second report is then prepared by the Office with a draft instrument, which is also sent for comments and submitted for discussion at the following session of the Conference, where the draft instrument is discussed, amended as necessary and proposed for adoption. This “double discussion” procedure gives Conference participants sufficient time to examine the draft instrument and make comments on it.
- A two-thirds majority of votes is required for a standard to be adopted.