Publications and research

Labordoc

Labordoc contains references to a wide range of print and electronic publications, including journal articles, from countries around the world, on all aspects of work and sustainable livelihoods, and the work-related aspects of economic and social developments and human rights. Labordoc provides an ever increasing number of links to online publications available on the internet.

Information centers and depository libraries

A Global Information Network to disseminate and provide access to ILO knowledge.

See also

The International Labour Office publishes the results of research related to the changing nature of work and employment which is of importance to policy makers and others. Technical guides, Codes of Practice and training manuals are also produced. Topics covered include enterprise development, social security, gender issues, international migration, industrial relations, labour law, child labour, occupational safety and health, and workers’ rights. Employment in the globalized economy and in the information society is a primary focus. The problems confronting workers and employers in developing, transition and industrialized economies are addressed, the objective being to contribute to the ILO goal of “decent work” for all.

Just released

  • Don't waste the crisis: Critical perspectives for a new economic model
    09 June 2010 - This collection of short articles examines the causes and consequences of the global financial crisis, with a focus on labour. ...
  • Offshoring and working conditions in remote work
    07 June 2010 - Advances in information and communication technologies (ICTs), combined with organizations seeking to reduce costs, have led to a dramatic growth in service sector offshoring and outsourcing, most notably to developing countries such as India. This is a co-publication with Palgrave MacMillan Publishing.
  • International labour migration. A rights-based approach
    29 April 2010 - This book offers a comprehensive and accessible overview of international labour migration and the ILO's efforts to protect migrant workers through a rights-based approach. It gives new insights into the factors that motivate people to seek work outside their country of origin and the significant development effects on both origin and destination countries. ...
  • The minimum wage revisited in the enlarged EU
    22 February 2010 - This book assesses the renewed interest in the minimum wage in Europe, looking at the main explanatory factors alongside EU enlargement and the advent of globalization. ...
  • Labour law and worker protection in developing countries
    06 February 2010 - This study reflects on labour law’s ability, in its current form, to protect workers’ rights and secure decent working conditions in the developing world. ...
  • Workplace solutions for childcare
    05 February 2010 - Workplace partnerships are effective for working parents considering childcare solutions. The focus of this book is on why workplace partners around the world have become involved in childcare and about the nature of programmes that have been implemented. ...
  • The fundamentals of labour administration
    28 January 2010 - A well-coordinated, professional and efficient labour administration machinery is essential to the effective governance of the labour market. This book will be an invaluable resource for labour administrators, labour inspectors, conciliators, employment service officials, governments, workers, employers, researchers and professionals.

Key resources

  • Key indicators of the labour market (KILM). Sixth edition (includes CD-ROM)
    27 January 2010 - This valuable wide-ranging reference tool meets the ever-increasing demand for timely, accurate and accessible information on the rapidly changing world of work. Now in its 10th year, the Key Indicators of the Labour Market (KILM) offers the general user with instant and uncomplicated access to data and analysis on the world's labour markets.
  • World of work report 2009. The global jobs crisis
    11 January 2010 - This World of Work Report from the International Institute for Labour Studies presents a highly relevant discussion of the jobs crisis resulting from the financial and economic crisis, in a non-technical manner, based on the latest data and economic analysis, with full technical annexes. ...
  • Global Wage Report: 2009 Update - [pdf 767 KB]
    02 November 2009 - The present report is an update of the Global Wages Report 2008/09 released in November 2008. While a comprehensive assessment will be provided in the next full Global Wage Report in 2010, the present update already provides some indications of wage trends up to the second quarter of 2009 in a number of countries around the world.
  • Global Wage Report 2008/09 Towards policy coherence: Minimum wages and collective bargaining - [pdf 1681 KB]
    20 November 2008 - The first in a new series of ILO reports focusing on wage developments, this volume reviews major trends in the level and distribution of wages around the world since 1995. ...
  • Yearbook of Labour Statistics 2009 Time Series
    11 January 2010 - Since its first edition in 1935-36, the Yearbook of Labour Statistics has established itself as the world's foremost work of statistical reference on labour questions, bringing together in systematic form a mass of data from a vast network of authoritative sources of information in some 190 countries... Price: 290 Sw.frs.; US$275; UK£140; €195