List of international labor organizations

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International labor organizations are groups that work across countries to improve jobs, rights, and safety at work. They include unions, employer groups, and bodies connected to the United Nations.

What they do
- Promote rights at work, safe conditions, fair wages, and social protection.
- Set international standards and help countries implement them.
- Fight child labor, forced labor, and discrimination.
- Share research, provide training, and support dialogue among workers, employers, and governments.

Major players
- International Labour Organization (ILO): a United Nations agency that creates international rules (conventions) for work life and helps countries adopt them with audits, guidance, and support.

- Global union groups:
- ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation): the main worldwide umbrella for workers’ unions, advocating for rights and decent work.
- WFTU (World Federation of Trade Unions): another global union group, historically more political and smaller today.
- ICFTU used to be a separate group but merged into ITUC in 2006.

- Employers’ groups:
- IOE (International Organization of Employers): represents business and employer voices in global labor discussions.

Regional bodies
- ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation): represents European unions and works with the European Union on labor policies.
- There are regional unions in other parts of the world as well, coordinating across countries in those areas.

How they work
- They draft and promote standards, monitor how countries follow them, and provide guidance and training.
- They organize conferences, publish reports, and facilitate dialogue between workers, employers, and governments.

Why it matters
- They defend the right to organize and bargain collectively, and push for safe workplaces, fair pay, and social protection.
- They help reduce child labor and improve equality at work.

Key terms
- Convention: a formal international rule set by bodies like the ILO.
- Ratification: when a country agrees to follow a convention.
- Decent work: work that is safe, fairly paid, and has social protections.

Note: This is a concise overview of major international labor organizations and their roles; many other groups also contribute to labor and employment globally.