UNIQUE TRIPARTITE STRUCTURE: A 90 YEARS OLD FORUM OF SOCIAL DIALOGUE

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the oldest specialized agency of the United Nations (U.N.). It was established in 1919 as an autonomous body of the League of Nation under the Treaty of Versailles. In 1946, it became the first specialized agency of the United Nations. In 1969, it was awarded the Noble Prize for Peace. The present research paper describes and examines the most important and distinguishing feature of the ILO, its unique tripartite structure, in which workers ' and employers ' representatives have an equal voice with those of governments in formulating its policies and programmes. ILO encourages ‘tripartism ’ within its member States by promoting social dialogue among the key economic actors on national policy on social, economic and many other issues. This distinct approach through which social, economic, political decisions are based as for as possible on the broad consent of workers, employers and governments, resulting in harmonious labour relations, thereby contributing to labour and social peace