International Labour Standards relevant to youth employment
Labour legislation and regulations based on International Labour Standards (ILS) are critical to provide pathways for decent work for young people. In June 2005, the International Labour Conference acknowledged that while most ILS are applicable to young persons, some are particularly important. This is either because they set out basic conditions required for the creation of good quality jobs or because they contain youth-specific provisions. ILS cover the key issues of educational capacity, enhancing employability, entrepreneurship and the creation of productive jobs for young people. They also lay down important provisions on how young people enter the work force and on their conditions of employment such as minimum age of admission to employment, pay, working time, night work and medical examinations, occupational safety and health, and labour inspection.
International Labour Standards consist of Conventions and Recommendations. Together these instruments provide practical guidance for countries seeking to facilitate young people’s full and productive integration into the labour market. International labour Conventions are international treaties, subject to ratification by ILO member States. Recommendations are non-binding instruments that set out guidelines helping to orient national policy and action.
Countries that have ratified Conventions report periodically on progress made. The ILO’s supervisory machinery examines these reports and identifies areas for improvement, if necessary. Through technical cooperation, the ILO supports countries in strengthening their capacities in this regard.
International Labour Standards consist of Conventions and Recommendations. Together these instruments provide practical guidance for countries seeking to facilitate young people’s full and productive integration into the labour market. International labour Conventions are international treaties, subject to ratification by ILO member States. Recommendations are non-binding instruments that set out guidelines helping to orient national policy and action.
Countries that have ratified Conventions report periodically on progress made. The ILO’s supervisory machinery examines these reports and identifies areas for improvement, if necessary. Through technical cooperation, the ILO supports countries in strengthening their capacities in this regard.
Freedom of association, collective bargaining and industrial relations
- Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
- Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)
- Workers’ Representatives Convention (No. 135) and Recommendation (No. 143), 1971
Forced labour
- Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
- Forced Labour (Indirect Compulsion) Recommendation, 1930 (No. 35)
- Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
Elimination of child labour and protection of children and young persons
- Minimum Age Convention (No. 138) and Recommendation (No. 146), 1973
- Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182) and Recommendation (No. 190), 1999
- Medical Examination of Young Persons (Industry) Convention, 1946 (No. 77)
- Medical Examination of Young Persons (Non-Industrial Occupations) Convention, 1946 (No. 78)
- Medical Examination of Young Persons Recommendation, 1946 (No. 79)
Equality of opportunity and treatment
- Equal Remuneration Convention (No. 100) and Recommendation (No. 90), 1951
- Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (No. 111) and Recommendation (No. 111), 1958
Labour inspection and administration
- Labour Inspection Convention (No. 81) and Recommendation (No. 81), 1947
- Protocol of 1995 to the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81)
- Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention (No. 129) and Recommendation (No. 133), 1969
- Labour Administration Convention (No. 150) and Recommendation (No. 158), 1978
Employment policy and promotion
- Employment Policy Convention (No. 122) and Recommendation (No. 122), 1964
- Employment Policy (Supplementary Provisions) Recommendation (No. 169), 1984
- Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention (No. 159) and Recommendation (No. 168), 1983
- Private Employment Agencies Convention (No. 181) and Recommendation (No. 188), 1997
- Employment Service Convention (No. 88) and Recommendation (No. 83), 1948
- Job Creation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Recommendation, 1998 (No. 189)
- Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation, 2002 (No. 193)
Vocational guidance and training
- Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142)
- Human Resources Development Recommendation, 2004 (No. 195)
Wages
- Protection of Wages Convention (No. 95) and Recommendation (No. 85), 1949
- Minimum Wage Fixing Convention (No. 131) and Recommendation (No. 135), 1970
Working time
- Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, 1919 (No. 1)
- Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1930 (No. 30)
- Night Work Convention (No. 171) and Recommendation (No. 178), 1990
- Part-Time Work Convention (No. 175) and Recommendation (No. 182), 1994
Occupational safety and health
- Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 155) and Recommendation (No. 164), 1981
- Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155)
- Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention (No. 184) and Recommendation (No. 192), 2001
Social security
- Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102)
- Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment Convention (No. 168) and Recommendation (No. 176), 1988
Maternity protection
Migrant workers
- Migration for Employment Convention (Revised) (No. 97) and Recommendation (Revised) (No. 86), 1949
- Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1975 (No. 143)
- Migrant Workers Recommendation, 1975 (No. 151)