2. ILO Strategic Policy Framework 2010-2015
The International Labour Organization
ILO Strategic Policy Framework

3. The International Labour Organization: Background
Universal humane conditions of labour as an expression of social justice and a condition for peace among nations
Unique tripartite structure
Mandated to realize the universal values of freedom, human dignity, security and
non-discrimination in the world of work
The contemporary expression of
the ILO’s vision and strategy is
the Decent Work Agenda
The International Labour Organization embodies a vision of universal humane conditions of labour as an expression of social justice and a condition for peace among nations. This vision is rooted in the values carried by the Organization and its unique tripartite structure giving equal weight to government, employer and worker representatives.
The International Labour Organization is mandated to realize, through social dialogue and tripartism, the universal values of freedom, human dignity, security and non-discrimination in the world of work. The contemporary expression of the ILO’s vision and strategy is the Decent Work Agenda
In today’s societies, work and employment are perceived as the main path to personal and family betterment. With the promise of rapid economic growth come heightened expectations for advancement through decent work. The extent to which the world of work is able to fulfil such expectations is a major factor of economic and social progress and political stability.

4. ILO Decent Work Agenda
Centred on the organization’s key strategic objectives…
Employment
The principal route out of poverty is work
Rights
People in poverty need representation, participation and voice
Protection
Earning power is suppressed by
marginalization and lack
of support systems
Dialogue
The only way to solve
problems peacefully
The four strategic objectives of the ILO form the bulwark of the Decent Work Agenda.

5. Support for the Decent Work Agenda
The 2005 UN General Assembly
“We strongly support fair globalization and resolve to make the goals of full and productive employment and decent work for all…a central objective of our relevant national and international policies…”
The ILO Decent Work Agenda has received strong political backing from the United Nations General Assembly and its Economic and Social Council, from regional summits and from many other political fora. A large spectrum of political leaders, across all regions, has committed, in one form or another, to decent work as a policy agenda.
The 2005 UN General Assembly stated inter alia: “We strongly support fair globalization and resolve to make the goals of full and productive employment and decent work for all, including for women and young people, a central objective of our relevant national and international policies as well as our national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategies, as part of our efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.” (paragraph 47 of A/RES/60/1).

6. Support for the Decent Work Agenda
Rising number of ratifications of ILO labour standards
By the end of 2008 there were 1,306 ratifications of the eight fundamental ILO Conventions
Now at 150 short of the total potential ratification of the fundamental Conventions by 182 member States,
or 89.7 per cent
The total number of ratifications of all
Conventions reached 7,600 in 2008
The rising number of ratifications of ILO labour standards is another signal of support to the ILO Decent Work Agenda. End 2008 there were 1,306 ratifications of the eight fundamental Conventions, 150 short of the total potential ratification of the fundamental conventions by 182 member States, or 89.7 per cent. Thirty-three member States have not yet ratified the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, (No.87). The total number of ratifications of all Conventions reached 7,600 in 2008.

7. Support for the Decent Work Agenda
Rise in contributions from donor nations to assist with implementation of one or several dimensions of the Decent Work Agenda in target countries
Doubling of extra-budgetary resources over last seven years
Increase in demand for ILO services
Decent Work Country Programmes
Urgent requests for assistance
that have arrived with the financial
and economic crisis
UN Development Assistance
Frameworks and joint UN operation in
which ILO services and policies
are frequently referenced
In parallel a growing number of donors are entrusting the ILO with rising amounts of voluntary contributions to assist countries implement one or several dimensions of the Decent Work Agenda. Extra-budgetary resources have almost doubled over the last seven years in nominal dollar terms.
The increase in donor contributions dovetails the increase in demand for ILO services, as reflected in Decent Work Country Programmes and in the urgent requests for assistance that have arrived with the financial and economic crisis. This demand is also reflected in UN Development Assistance Frameworks and joint UN operations in which ILO services and policies are frequently referenced.
With strong political backing for a reconfirmed agenda, the ILO is confronted with the task of effectively and efficiently assisting its Members grappling with the urgent challenges of the globalizing world of work.

8. The ILO’s Strategic Policy Framework 2010-2015
Envisioning an Organization assisting its constituents to seize, from the standpoint of the world of work, the opportunities of globalization and to confront its challenges
Ensuring that ILO tripartite constituents are able, separately and together, and as an
Organization, to advance
towards decent work and
humane conditions of labour for all
working women and men
The vision underpinning the Strategic Policy Framework is that of an Organization assisting its government, employer and worker members to seize, from the standpoint of the world of work, the opportunities of globalization and confront its challenges. It is founded on the experience that ILO tripartite constituents are able, separately and together, and as an Organization, to advance towards decent work and humane conditions of labour for all working women and men, in enterprises, economic sectors, countries, regions and globally.

9. The challenges of globalization
Many countries and sectors face major income inequality
Continuing high levels of unemployment and poverty
Even before the present financial crisis, 2 in 5 workers still trapped in informal, low-productivity activities yielding poverty incomes
Vulnerability of economies to external shocks
The growth of both unprotected
work and the informal economy,
which impacts on the
employment relationship
and the protections it
can offer
Globalization is reshaping the world of work in profound ways.
On the one hand it has helped a number of countries to benefit from high rates of economic growth and employment creation, to absorb many of the rural poor into the modern urban economy, to advance their developmental goals, and to foster innovation in product development and the circulation of ideas.
On the other hand, it has caused many countries and sectors to face major challenges of income inequality, continuing high levels of unemployment and poverty, vulnerability of economies to external shocks, and the growth of both unprotected work and the informal economy, which impact on the employment relationship and the protections it can offer.

10. ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization
In line with ILO strategic objectives and the Decent Work Agenda, urges ILO to assist its Members in their efforts to…
Promote employment, skills development, sustainable enterprises and economic growth
Extend social security and other forms of social protection
Promote social dialogue and tripartism
Respect, promote and realize the fundamental principles and rights at work
In a Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization adopted at the International Labour Conference in June 2008, the tripartite delegations of 182 member States confirmed the key role of the Organization in assisting its Members in their efforts to reach the ILO’s objectives, as set out in its constitutional mandate, in the context of globalization.
The Declaration asks the Office to effectively assist its Members in their efforts to promote employment, skills development, sustainable enterprises and economic growth; extend social security and labour protection, promote social dialogue and tripartism and respect, promote and realize the fundamental principles and rights at work.
The Organization’s foremost current task is to respond to the opportunities and challenges globalization presents to the world of work, in keeping with its basic values and mandate. Enterprises, occupations, workplaces, conditions and settings of work are deeply transformed through the rapid globalization of trade, labour, financial, information and technology flows. As a consequence the economic and political geography of the world is changing.
In today’s societies, work and employment are perceived as the main path to personal and family betterment. With the promise of rapid economic growth come heightened expectations for advancement through decent work. The extent to which the world of work is able to fulfil such expectations is a major factor of economic and social progress and political stability.

11. The Strategic Policy Framework: Key ILO goals for 2015
Be recognized as the premier forum for debate and guidance on policies to bring about decent work
Be the primary source of guidance for member States to place full and productive employment and decent work for all at the centre of economic and social policies
Be an authoritative source of information, data, knowledge and advice on decent work policies
in all their dimensions
At the end of the planning period, our goal is for an ILO described as follows.
The International Labour Organization is recognized as the foremost forum for debate and guidance on policies to move the world of work onto a decent work path. Topical policy debates are held annually at the International Labour Conference and through regional and technical meetings gathering key policy-makers and opinion leaders. Members look to the ILO for guidance on placing full and productibve employment and decent work for all at the centre of economic and social policies.
The Governing Body effectively determines and monitors the policies, programmes and resources of the International Labour Office.
The International Labour Office is an authoritative source of information, data, knowledge and advice on decent work policies in all their dimensions. The Office researches, monitors and evaluates world of work trends and policies, thereby establishing a recognized competency in the policies and subject matters in which the ILO has a clear comparative advantage.

12. The Strategic Policy Framework: Key ILO goals for 2015
Cooperate actively, directly and through common UN country programmes with governments and with employers’ and workers’ organizations, assisting them to design and implement decent work policies
Cooperate closely with international organizations to achieve convergence and coherence on major
policy orientations pertaining
to the world of work
Be recognized for its key
contributions in making the
UN system an effective and
efficient development partner
The ILO cooperates actively, directly and through common UN country programmes, with governments and with employers’ and workers’ organisations, assisting them to design and implement decent work policies. Capacity building programmes using a variety of modalities are carried out for the benefit of ILO members. There is a close partnership among beneficiary members and donor countries on the ILO programme priorities.
The ILO is cooperating closely with international organisations and achieving convergence and coherence on major policy orientations pertaining to the world of work. The ILO is recognised for its key contributions in making the UN system an effective and efficient development partner.
The regular budget, complemented by voluntary contributions, enables the ILO to perform effectively and efficiently its functions.

13. The SPF by objective
Strategic objective: Create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment and income
More people have access to productive and decent employment through inclusive job-rich growth
Skills development increases the
employability of workers, the competitiveness of enterprises, and the inclusiveness of growth
Sustainable enterprises create
productive and decent jobs
Creating opportunities for productive and decent employment for women and men is a global challenge, especially in the context of economic downturn where more unemployment, informality and poverty are projected. The ILO’s work for promoting job-rich inclusive growth focuses on support to constituents to generate, analyse and monitor labour market data and trends. It also helps them to formulate and implement coordinated policies and programmes that make employment central to national development frameworks and poverty reduction strategies, and that improve the quality of employment for those in the rural and informal economies.
A skilled workforce is a necessary condition for inclusive growth and sustainable enterprise. The key policy elements of the ILO’s approach include skills forecasting, skills recognition systems, skills development for disadvantaged groups and employment services. Attention to gender issues is particularly important in the work on apprenticeships, youth employability, community-based training and recognition of informally acquired skills. Research and policy tools on skills development will contribute to Office-wide outcomes on sustainable enterprises, preparing for green jobs, managing labour migration, combating human trafficking and child labour, and achieving gender equality.
Enterprises that are sustainable are the principal source of growth, wealth creation, employment and decent work. The ILO will continue to support constituents to implement policy, legal and regulatory reforms that support the development of sustainable enterprises and promote respect for workers’ rights and gender equality. Efforts will also continue to support enterprise development programmes in economic sectors with employment creation potential and to stimulate local economic development. These programmes will focus on SMEs (particularly those run by women and young people) and cooperatives.

14. The SPF by objective
Strategic objective: Enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all
More people have access to better managed and more gender- equitable social security benefits
Women and men have better and more equitable working conditions
Workers and enterprises benefit from improved
safety and health conditions at work
More migrant workers are protected and have access to productive employment and decent work
The world of work responds effectively to the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Increased social security coverage reduces poverty and social insecurity and is an investment in expanding productive employment. The ILO’s work encompasses legal, social, economic, financial, fiscal, statistical and actuarial aspects of social security.
It is crucial to build the ILO’s knowledge base regarding working conditions with products such as the Global Wage Report, to create networks to monitor and share information on trends in major aspects of people’s working lives, and to use these tools to provide sound policy guidance. The aim is to help constituents both improve working conditions and enhance enterprise performance, particularly in SMEs.
Improving OSH measures is essential to prevent human suffering, exclusion from the labour market, and economic costs to employers and governments. This takes on added importance in the present global crisis, which could undermine any efforts in the OSH field. Guided by the Global Strategy on OSH, the Office will support constituents’ efforts in creating a prevention culture and a systems approach to OSH.
The fundamental objective of ILO’s strategy is to maximize the development benefits of the international labour migration flows for both the countries of origin and destination. Commensurately, the Office will assist member States in developing and improving rights- based labour migration policies and institutions to reduce ill-effects, protect migrant workers better and promote development.
The HIV epidemic has detrimental effects on workers and enterprises. It undermines productivity and economic growth, jeopardizes the achievement of decent work and intensifies poverty. It affects women, men, girls and boys differently in terms of vulnerability, discrimination and impact. The ILO will address those issues in its response and will continue to work with constituents to develop and implement workplace programmes aimed at preventing new infections, accessing treatment and combating discrimination in employment.

15. The SPF by objective
Strategic objective: Strengthen tripartism and social dialogue
Employers and workers have strong, independent and representative organizations
Labour administrations apply up-to-date labour legislation and provide effective services
Tripartism and strengthened labour
market governance contribute
to effective social dialogue
and sound industrial relations
A sector-specific approach
to decent work is applied
Strong and effective employers’ organizations are essential for sound governance of the labour market. They can play a pivotal role in promoting, inter alia, policies conducive to the creation of sustainable and competitive enterprises and an entrepreneurship culture, which are the basis for job creation, economic growth and development.
Strong workers’ organizations are crucial for delivering decent work and translating the Social Justice Declaration into tangible results. International labour standards, their implementation and enforcement in national legislations are the bed-rock of these organizations’ strength.
An efficient and well-coordinated system of labour administration is key for the formulation and implementation of sound national labour policies and laws. The ILO will advocate and assist member States in strengthening the labour administration system, including the labour inspection and employment services.
Effective social dialogue and sound industrial relations represent a key instrument of labour market governance and promotion of decent work for all. The ILO will build on its current work and help member States to strengthen the mechanisms for social dialogue in all its forms: tripartite cooperation, collective bargaining, information and consultation, labour disputes prevention and resolution. Where there are no such mechanisms, the ILO will help tripartite constituents to establish some and make them operational.
Industries and services have their own specific sets of issues, just as individuals have when tackling occupational challenges. Recognizing this principle, the ILO pursues a sectoral approach that translates high-level policy advice into practice where impact is needed: the workplace.

16. The SPF by objective
Strategic objective: Promote and realize standards and fundamental principles and rights at work
The right to freedom of association and collective bargaining is widely known and exercised
Child labour, forced labour and discrimination at work are progressively eliminated
International labour standards
are ratified and applied
Freedom of association and collective bargaining are essential to human rights and the social and economic development of countries, and constitute the undeniable corner-stone of the ILO. Conventions Nos. 87 and 98 and their related instruments are the most far-reaching international instruments in this area and the ILO supervisory mechanisms which monitor progress in their application are the most advanced in the UN system. Nevertheless, despite the progress made, they remain the least ratified of the eight fundamental Conventions. Significant obstacles exist to their practical application, particularly as regards vulnerable workers in EPZs, in agriculture, domestic and migrant workers, often resulting in a noticeable rights gap for women. Achieving full respect of these rights requires long- term commitment and support.
The continued existence of child labour, forced labour and discrimination at work represents a major obstacle to the realization of decent work for all. Through ratification of the fundamental ILO Conventions and the adoption of the 1998 Declaration and the Social Justice Declaration, ILO constituents have committed themselves to effective action to ensure universal respect for these rights. The Office will provide technical assistance to enhance constituents’ capacity to eliminate forced and child labour and discrimination.
International labour standards play a central role in achieving the Decent Work Agenda. The Plan of Action on the standards strategy adopted by the Governing Body will integrate the relevant elements of the follow-up to the Social Justice Declaration, including the selection of priorities for standards- related activities as a result of the recurrent discussions at the Conference.

17. The SPF by objective Additional outcome: Mainstreaming decent work
Member States place an integrated approach to decent work at the heart of their economic and social policies, supported by key UN and other multilateral agencies
The impact of the Decent Work Agenda is significantly improved when it is placed at the heart of economic and social policies for sustainable development. Members’ capacity to achieve this objective is enhanced when UN and other multilateral organizations offer coherent policy advice and technical assistance that serve to promote an integrated approach to decent work. This calls for the strengthening of the informational and analytical underpinnings of integrated policies and programmes across the ILO’s four strategic objectives within the overall framework of sustainable development. The ILO will therefore pursue a strategy for the mainstreaming of decent work in its collaboration with other international and regional organizations with mandates in closely related fields. In this connection, it is important to incorporate into the decent work approach the implications of environmental policies, especially on climate change.

18. Strengthening the ILO’s technical capacities
Strengthening the knowledge base
Results-based knowledge strategy to focus on four areas: statistics, research, knowledge networks, and knowledge dissemination
Stronger statistical foundation and an
innovative approach to measuring
the multiple facets of decent work
In line with the Social Justice Declaration, a comprehensive results-based knowledge strategy for 2010–15 will be submitted to the Governing Body in November It will aim at strengthening the Office’s knowledge base to better serve constituents through solid research and up to date statistics. The strategy will strengthen capacities in four areas: statistics, research, knowledge networks, and knowledge dissemination. Strengthening the knowledge base and knowledge sharing will also support change in working methods, in particular increased team working.
The ILO will develop a stronger statistical foundation and an innovative approach to measuring the multiple facets of decent work, analysing and interpreting data in a gender-responsive and country-specific context. This work will draw from national sources, existing ILO databases, statistical indicators and information on rights at work and the legal framework for decent work for women and men. Decent Work Country profiles and in-depth country studies will be key instruments. Knowledge generated will be shared with constituents in a timely, easily comprehensible and cost-effective way, and in formats and languages that meet their needs.

19. Strengthening the ILO’s technical capacities
Building the capacity of ILO constituents
Capacity development for workers’ and employers’ organizations will include training and other capacity-building initiatives based on needs assessments
Develop tools and expertise for ministries of
labour or their equivalents to take a
comprehensive and integrated approach to
their main functions, from labour
administration to labour inspection and
employment services
Capacity development for workers’ and employers’ organizations will include training and other capacity building initiatives based on needs assessments, carried out in cooperation with the relevant employers’ and workers’ organizations and with assistance from the ILO International Training Centre. Ministries of labour or their equivalents will be supported in their efforts to take a comprehensive and integrated approach to their main functions, from labour administration to labour inspection and employment services. The ILO will develop tools and expertise to address capacity challenges of these related functions, including the need to strengthen social dialogue institutions. ILO internal expertise on capacity assessment and development will be strengthened so that specific capacity development results can be defined with constituents. This will require additional staff training, online tools and support networks and communities of practice, necessitating more cooperation across the Office, including with the International Training Centre of the ILO, Turin.

20. Strengthening the ILO’s technical capacities
Building the capacity of ILO constituents
Work within the context of UN Development Assistance Framework and joint UN programmes
Develop capacity in other government institutions regarding specific economic sectors that play
a key role in delivering on DWCP results
Strengthen capacity for effective tripartite
participation in UN country programmes
The ILO will also work within the context of United Nations Development Assistance Framework and joint UN programmes to develop capacity in other government institutions regarding specific economic sectors that play a key role in delivering on DWCP results. Particular attention will be required to strengthen capacity for effective tripartite participation in UN country programmes.

21. Strengthening the ILO’s technical capacities
Promote effective partnerships within the UN and multilateral systems to strengthen ILO operational programmes, activities and objectives
Strengthen ILO technical support to members by concentrating specialist
technical capacity in fewer
but larger decent work technical support teams
The Social Justice Declaration calls for the promotion of effective partnerships The Social Justice Declaration calls for the promotion of effective partnerships within the UN and multilateral systems to strengthen ILO operational programmes and activities or otherwise promote ILO objectives. This will be pursued through strong involvement in the “Delivering as One” UN reform initiatives and the implementation of the 2007 General Assembly resolution on the Triennial Comprehensive Policy Review (TCPR) for 2007–20. The Decent Work Agenda will be mainstreamed through support to the UN system-wide application of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) Toolkit for Mainstreaming Employment and Decent Work and of the ILO’s gender audit tool. Public– private partnerships, South–South cooperation, partnerships with regional structures and national expertise and networks, all pursued in collaboration with constituents, will complement the approach, thus enabling constituents to obtain greater access to important decision-making circles.
Particular attention will be given to the following measures to strengthen the capacity of the Office to assist its Members, due account taken of differing regional situations:
Strengthening the technical support to Members in the regions through concentrating specialist technical capacity in fewer but larger decent work technical support teams servicing the needs of a number of countries. Such teams must work in close collaboration with, and rely on the support of technical programmes at headquarters.
Establishing a single type of ILO field office which will specialize in servicing Members in one or several countries. Field offices will deliver ILO programmes and support Members, and their skills and composition will be aligned accordingly. In particular field offices should have full first-line responsibility to design and implement DWCPs.
Deploying ILO capacity more flexibly.
Clarifying roles and responsibilities of regional offices, field offices, technical support teams and headquarters technical programmes.

22. Strengthening ILO governance, management and support
Effective and efficient utilization of all ILO resources
Effective and efficient governance of the Organization
Reinforcement of management will be necessary to meet the challenges facing the Office in the next few years: enhanced competition around the ILO mandate; UN reform; departure of experienced staff; the headquarters renovation project; and continued pressure on resources for programme backstopping and delivery. Measures to further strengthen the role and assignment of the Senior Management Team will be introduced to enable comprehensive follow-up to the Social Justice Declaration and to address key internal governance issues. Line managers will help strengthen the professional approach to management for results. There will be a renewed focus on staff performance, risk management, and responsibility for promoting teamwork and efficiency.
An Office-wide change management and capacity building programme will be implemented, building on the milestones of the results-based management roadmap, and supported by integrated management strategies. It will combine capacity building elements and reinforced incentive structures to implement changes in the culture and practices of the Organization and the Office. This long-term process will require commitment to good governance and in-depth involvement of all constituents and staff, particularly management. The programme will target improvements of the following management dimensions: accountability; transparency; work- planning and organization of work; support for knowledge sharing; organizational learning; teamwork and core management competencies.

23. Summing up the SPF
Building upon the historic mission of the ILO to promote freedom, human dignity, security and non-discrimination in the world of work
Recognizing the inseparable, interrelated and mutually supportive nature of the ILO’s key strategic objectives
Supporting ILO constituents to address the opportunities of globalization and to confront its challenges
Revolving around the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda
Setting forth an integrated approach to achieving results