ILO’s 1998 Declaration: Ratification Campaigns for Convention 111 on Employment Discrimination

Abstract

Following a consensus at the 81st Session of the International Labour Conference (1994) for a more intensive promotion of fundamental rights, the Director-General began a campaign to promote ratification of the fundamental Conventions. Working in the International Labour Standards department at that time, I had the “lucky” responsibility of organizing the drafting, signature, and dispatch of the first round of Director- General letters to member states. They were to be personalized according to each State’s ratification record and past utterances on ratification prospects (available through General Survey questionnaire replies and a range of other sources, including formal workshops aimed at ratification, statements in other UN bodies, etc.) and to offer a surprisingly new approach from the Secretariat, although Standards Specialists in the field for years had job descriptions that included support for ratification of the whole body of international labor conventions, and support for their application in law and in practice—a range of technical assistance options to help foster social dialog on the utility of ratification. There were seven texts involved: Conventions No.’s 87 and 98 on freedom of association, 29 and 105 on forced labor, 100 and 111 on non-discrimination, and 138 on minimum age for entry into employment, soon to be followed by the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, No. 182, adopted by the ILC in 1999. Regular reports were made to member states on this campaign.