International labour organisation

The ILO was founded in 1920 and seeks to raise the standards and dignity of human labour throughout the world. In particular it encourages freedom of association and the rights of workers’ organisations. It formulates conventions, makes recommendations, receives reports on labour conditions and related matters, and undertakes research and enquir­ies. Policy is determined by a Conference of all members which meets annually, member states being represented by two government delegates, one employers’ delegate and one employees’ delegate, and decisions being on the basis of a two-thirds majority. The executive of the organ­isation is the fifty-six-member Governing Body which meets quarterly and is responsible for determining programmes, convening conferences, preparing the budget and appointing the Director-General. It is part- nominated and part-elected by the Conference, and consists of twenty-eight government members, fourteen employers’ members and fourteen employees’ members. In order to play a more positive role in major international councils on social and economic development a policy of decentralisation of activities and resources was introduced under the ILO’s Active Partnership Policy.

The ILO has its headquarters and secretariat (the International Labour Office) in Geneva, regional offices in Addis Ababa, Bangkok, Istanbul and Lima, and an International Centre for Advanced Technical and Vocational Training in Turin.

International maritime organisation

The organisation changed its name from Inter-governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO) to International Maritime Organisa­tion (IMO) in May 1982. It is responsible for international cooperation in all technical matters relating to shipping. It was established on the basis of the Maritime Convention which resulted from the United Nations Maritime Conference held in Geneva 1948, and seeks to improve mari­time safety and prevent maritime pollution from ships, disseminates information, convenes conferences, and promotes and administers inter­national maritime conventions. It has an Assembly of all member states meeting every second year and a Council of twenty-four. There are five main Committees: on maritime safety, legal matters, marine en­vironment protection, the facilitation of maritime trade and technical cooperation. The headquarters and Secretariat are in London.

International telecommunications union

The ITU is the body responsible for international cooperation, research and the dissemination of knowledge in all branches of telecommunica­tions, and for the administration of its Convention. Policy decisions are made by a Plenipotentiary Conference of all member states meeting every five years; executive control lies with the Administrative Council elected by the Assembly and meeting annually, and their three per­manent organs: the International Frequency Registration Board, the International Radio Consultative Committee and the International Tele­graph and Telephone Consultative Committee. The General Secretariat is in Geneva.