Mission and impact of the ILO

Promoting jobs, Protecting people

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace.

Only tripartite U.N. agency, the ILO brings together governments, employers and workers representatives of 187 member States, to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.

Today, the ILO's Decent Work agenda helps advance the economic and working conditions that give all workers, employers and governments a stake in lasting peace, prosperity and progress.

Four strategic objectives at the heart of the Decent Work agenda

  1. The ILO and the 2030 development agenda

Country data and ILO results

  1. ILO country knowledge portal

    National information and data on labour laws, standards, policies and statistics. Country profiles provide also relevant information on ILO projects and programmes, publications and good practices.

Stories of impact

  1. © ILO/Gita Lingga 2023
    From a stay-at-home mother to a trade union leader

    28 September 2023

    The ILO’s women leadership training programme has inspired a female union leader to continue fighting for the union recognition and labour rights of her fellow workers.

  2. © Adri Berger / ILO 2023
    How data can bolster decent work in the tourism sector

    26 September 2023

    In-depth tourism employment data can provide valuable insights for shaping policies that benefit enterprises and improve the welfare of workers in the industry.

List all

Unmatched expertise and knowledge about the world of work

In support of its goals, the ILO offers unmatched expertise and knowledge about the world of work, acquired over almost 100 years of responding to the needs of people everywhere for decent work, livelihoods and dignity. It serves its tripartite constituents - and society as a whole - in a variety of ways, including:
  • Formulation of international policies and programmes to promote basic human rights, improve working and living conditions, and enhance employment opportunities
  • Creation of international labour standards backed by a unique system to supervise their application
  • An extensive programme of international technical cooperation formulated and implemented in an active partnership with constituents, to help countries put these policies into practice in an effective manner
  • Training, education and research activities to help advance all of these efforts