Labour Law mediates many aspects of the relationship between trade unions, employers and employees.
Collective labour law relates to the tripartite relationship between employee, employer and an employee organization. Agreements on the rights and obligations of the employers and employees are negotiated in a collective bargaining process.
Individual labour law concerns employees’ rights at work and through a work contract.
The labour organizations have been instrumental in the enacting of laws protecting labour rights in the 19th and 20th centuries. Labour rights have been integral to the social and economic development since the Industrial Revolution. Employment standards are social norms for the minimum socially acceptable conditions under which employees or contractors will work.
The adoption of labour laws and regulations is an important means of implementing ILO standards, promoting the ILO Declaration and the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and putting the concept of Decent Work into practice. Under the ILO Constitution, the Office is committed to offering technical cooperation and advisory services to member States and to assist them in assessing and, where necessary, framing or revising their labour laws. This includes assistance in the development of national laws and regulations to allow ratification of Conventions or implementation of the corresponding principles.
