Ethical Trade index by subject - Ethical Trading Initiative

Ethical Trade Resources: by issue

Based on the sections of the ETI Base Code

This is an outline page for this new section of the ETI website, which will be developed on an ongoing basis to provide a list of key resources on this topic. Suggestions for material to include on this page are welcome!

Introduction:

International labour standards and the ILO
Fundamental conventions
Other relevant conventions
See also...

Resource Pages:

Selected resources organised by their particular relevance to sections of the ETI Base Code:

Employment is freely chosen - e.g. no forced labour
Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected
Health & Safety conditions are safe and hygienic
Child labour shall not be used
Living wages are paid
Working hours are not excessive
No discrimination is practised
Regular employment is provided
No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed.

Introduction

Responsibility for setting international labour standards is given by the international community to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) which was established for this purpose. The tripartite structure of the ILO, involving both employers’ and workers’ representatives as well as governments, together with the technical expertise of this organisation in all matters relating to the world of work, make the ILO the authoritative and legitimate source of international labour standards.

ILO standards are set in Conventions, having the force of international law and binding for states that have ratified them and in Recommendations which provide additional guidance to governments. ILO member states must provide regular reports on the application of ratified Conventions to the ILO. The findings of ILO supervisory bodies form ILO jurisprudence.

With the adoption in June 1998 of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work all 174 ILO member states have an obligation, regardless of ratification, to respect, promote and realise the principles contained in the core ILO Conventions. The base code headings below list and describe the key International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions and Recommendations relevant to the nine clauses of the ETI Base Code (see Base Code text and Implementation Priniciples for the full text of the ETI Base Code). For the most relevant Conventions, we have included a description of the content of each Convention; however, in all cases reference should be made to the full text of the Convention concerned.

Information on the ILO and all Conventions and Recommendations can be found in full on the ILO Website at www.ilo.org.

Fundamental Conventions

Eight ILO Conventions have been identified by the ILO's Governing Body as being fundamental to the rights of human beings at work, irrespective of levels of development of individual member States. These rights are a precondition for all the others in that they provide for the necessary implements to strive freely for the improvement of individual and collective conditions of work.

Freedom of association

Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, 1948 (No. 87)

Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)

The abolition of forced labour

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)

Equality

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)

The elimination of child labour

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)

Alongside these eight fundamental Conventions and not directly reflected in the ETI Base Code, three other Conventions have also been prioritised by the ILO, meaning they are also subject to biannual reporting by states (as opposed to 5 years for other conventions):

Employment Policy C122

Tripartite Consultation C144

Labour Inspection C81

Other relevant conventions

Alongside the fundamental conventions included under each base code heading, the following Conventions and Recommendations are also relevant to the ETI Base Code.

C175 – Part-time Work Convention, 1994

C183 – Maternity Protection Convention, 2000

C177 – Home Work Convention, 1996; and R184 Home Work Recommendation, 1996

C159 – Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983; and R168 – Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Recommendation, 1983

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