90th Anniversary Celebration of lLO SOUVENIR Hkkjr ljdkj] ubZ fnYyh GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, NEW DELHI Je vkSj jkstxkj ea=kky; MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT SOUVENIR CONTENTS Message from : Page No. âPresident of India : 1 âVice President of India : 2 âPrime Minister of India : 3 âDeputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Government of India : 4 âUnion Minister of Labour & Employment, Government of India : 5 âUnion Minister of State for Labour & Employment : 6 Government of India âDirector General, International Labour Organisation : 7 âSecretary, Labour & Employment, Government of India : 8 âRegional Director, International Labour Organisation, Bangkok : 9 âDirector, Sub-regional Office, ILO, New Delhi : 10 âJoint Message from Central Trade Union Organizations. : 11 âJoint Message from Central Organization of Employers. : 13 ILO in India : 14 Indian Contributions to the work of ILO : 17 International Labour Conference : 18 Governing Body : 21 Indian Experts on ILO Committees : 22 The International Labour Office : 23 International Labour Conventions and application of Standards : 24 Technical Assistance and Training : 25 The Impact of major ILO debates and initiatives on India : 25 Nine decades of ILO and India - An article by Shri N.M.Adyanthaya, Member (Workers), Governing Body of ILO : 28 ILO - Challenges Ahead - An Article by Shri Y.K.Modi, Member (Employers), Governing Body of ILO : 31 Looking ahead : 36 Annexure-I : International Labour Organisation Conventions Ratified by India : 37 Annexure-II : Select Landmark Events in ILO History : 39 PREFACE India has been with the ILO since the very inception of the Organisation in 1919 and the aims and objects of the organisation, the standards set by it, its technical cooperation programmes and, above all, its tripartite mechanism of dealing with labour matters have influenced many developments in this country. There is a striking similarity between the aims stated in the Preamble to the Indian Constitution - "Justice, liberty, equality, fraternity" - and the goals of the International Labour Organisation. The Directive Principles embodied in the Indian Constitution also reflect many of the cherished principles of the International Labour Organisation. Most of the basic provisions of the ILO Conventions and Recommendations have found acceptance in Indian law and practice. There is a tripartite Committee on Conventions in India to carry out a continuous review of the position relating to the implementation of international labour standards and to ensure that they are followed to the maximum extent possible considering the circumstances prevailing in the country. The standards set by the ILO have influenced several legislative enactments in India. While ILO has exercised its influence on the course of events in India, it has itself not remained unaffected by India's influence. The voice of India at the ILO has often been a powerful one. It was largely due to the efforts of the developing countries including India that there has been a growing shift of emphasis in the work of the Organisation from standard - setting to provision of technical assistance. The establishment of the Asian Regional Conference and the Asian Advisory Committee can also be traced to the persistent efforts made by India and the other countries of the region. The programme of decentralisation of the structure of the Organisation is also a response to the constant efforts made by India and other developing countries. India and ILO have a very strong and flourishing partnership which keeps growing. On the occasion of 90th Anniversary of ILO, we have jointly brought out this compilation to cherish memories of our long association for a very noble social cause. New Delhi S.K.Srivastava Date: Feb, 2010 Additional Secretary to the Government of India 1 2 3 4 5 6 International Labour Office 7 8 Here in this vast region of Asia and the Pacific, as we celebrate our 90 years of advocacy on behalf of the world of work, India continues to demonstrate its leadership within the International Labour Organization. As one of the founding members of the ILO, the voice of India has always been a commanding one. From the floor of the International Labour Conference to the sessions of the Governing Body, the Constituents from India have been united and resolute in their demands for social justice throughout the world. Indeed, the ILO's first Asian Field Office was based at Bangalore. Throughout the decades India's respect for tripartism and our tripartite traditions has become both well-established and well-recognized. The Government of India and the Social Partners continue to endorse common approaches towards complex social issues. In more recent years, India has shown its resilience in the face of the global economic slowdown, and is now predicting a return to robust annual economic growth of nine per cent. Progress towards the global Decent Work agenda is best seen at country levels through the implementation of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCP). In India, the ILO/tripartite partners have aligned their DWCP to India's 11th Five–Year Plan. The DWCP for India is a contribution to that broader work, ultimately leading to India's vision of faster and more inclusive growth, with decent work and conditions for all Indians. On behalf of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, I would like to compliment you on the publication of your commemorative works to mark the ILO's 90th Anniversary. Sachiko Yamamoto Regional Director ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Tel. +66 2 288 1234 United Nations Building, 11th Floor, Fax. +66 2 288 3062 Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, E-mail: [email protected] Bangkok 10200, Thailand www.ilo.org/asia 9 ILO Subregional Office for South Asia Tel. +91 11 2460 2101-02-03, 2460 2105 Core 4B, 3rd Floor, Fax. +91 11 2460 2111, 2464 7973 India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road, E-mail: [email protected] New Delhi 110 003, India www.ilo.org/India 10 JOINT MESSAGE FROM CENTRAL TRADE UNION ORGANISATIONS The Ninetieth Anniversary of the foundations of ILO is a matter of great rejoices for the working people all over the world. The ILO which has given birth to international tripartite machinery in 1919 has played an important role in evolving models for labour legislations in all the continents. The meetings of the representatives of the Governments, workers and employers who meet every year in an international conference have worked out several conventions and recommendations which have become guidelines for all the countries to enact national laws to improve the working and living conditions of the workers. This year also marks the 60th Anniversary of the historic ILO convention on Freedom of Association and Right of Collective Bargaining which has become magna carta for the trade union movement all over the world. Contributions made by the ILO in ensuring implementation of ILO conventions by monitoring their violations by various countries deserve to be remembered on the occasion of this important anniversary. Yet there is much to be desired in the matters of ratification and implementation by different countries. ILO and all the partners shall have to work together to improve the situation. The famous Philadelphia Declaration which characterized "Poverty anywhere is a threat to Prosperity Everywhere" is guiding the ILO activities all over the world. The trade union movement in India solemnly declares on this occasion to strive their best to strengthen genuine tripartism in India. We firmly believe that a united trade union movement can alone contribute in developments of meaningful tripartism. We also would like to declare our sound commitments that India should accept all the core conventions of the ILO in a time bound manner which will only enhance the traditions of the ILO in India. We firmly discourage all attempts to reduce the role of the ILO in international affairs. We wish to do everything to strengthen the role of the ILO as international standard setting organization in labour related matters. In recent times the world economy has plunged into a deep crisis resulting in widespread job loss, wage depression and lack of social security. The trade unions and workers hope that the ILO will take up a pro-active role to protect the jobs and earnings of the workers on top priority in the interest of peace and early recovery from the economic crisis. 11 We earnestly hope that as founding member of the ILO should play an important role in strengthening the role of the ILO to insure economic growth with social justice. On behalf of the central trade unions in India we sincerely wish all success to the observance of 90th Anniversary of the ILO in a befitting manner. BMS INTUC AITUC HMS R.V. Subba Rao G. CITU AIUTUC TUCC AICCTU LPF UTUC 12 JOINT MESSAGE FROM CENTRAL ORGANSATION OF EMPLOYERS It is heartening that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has completed 90 years of its inception. ILO charter is a harbinger of new era in forging tripartite relationship among the social partners, promoting economic prosperity and social cohesion. Over the years, ILO through its instruments and technical co-operation programmes has emerged as a champion of civil liberties. The Forced Labour Convention, Child Labour Convention, Equal Remuneration and Equality at the Workplace Convention are the most pronounced ones. These conventions have contributed to socio-economic development particularly, among the under-developed and developing countries. Fundamental declaration at the Workplace and Decent work are the most imaginative and innovation tools to achieve social progress. With globalisation of world economy ILO is facing now set of challenges. The work place problems, like restructuring and redundancies are likely to strain social cohesion. We are confident ILO's time tested mechanism and credibility will find viable solution to these problems. Issues like promoting entrepreneurship and skill development should retool ILO agenda to address these issues.