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International Labour Conference: 26th-30th Sessions

The International Labour Conference through time

26th Session - 1944 (20 April-12 May) - Philadelphia, USA

Delegations were present from 41 Member countries of the Organisation. They included 74 Government delegates, 28 employers' delegates, and 30 workers' delegates. The official delegates were accompanied by 131 Government advisers, 43 employers' advisers, and 54 workers' advisers. In all, there were 360 members of delegations.

Source: Report of the Credentials Committee. 

President

Mr Walter Nash, representative of New Zealand

Vice-presidents

Mr Mariano Bustos Lagos, Government delegate of Chile

Sir John Forbes Watson,  Employers' delegate of the British Empire

Mr Robert J. Watt, Workers' delegate of the United States of America.

Source: Minutes of the First Sitting.

I. Future policy, programme and status of the International Labour Organisation;

II. Recommendations to the United Nations on present and postwar social policy;

III. The organisation of employment in the transition from war to peace;

IV. Social security: principles, and problems arising out of the war;

V. Minimum standards of social policy in dependent territories;

VI. Reports on the application of Conventions (Article 22 of the Constitution);

VII. Director's Report.

The Twenty-Sixth Session of the International Labour Conference held nineteen plenary sittings, and adopted seven Recommendations:

Declaration Concerning the Aims and Purposes of the International Labour Organisation

Record of Proceedings

The Philadelphia Conference and the Future of the ILO

27th Session - 1945 (15 October-5 November) - Paris, France

Reports I and II of the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young Workers: Welfare of Children and Young Workers

Reports I and II of the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young Workers: First Discussion in Plenary

Forty-eight States were represented. Altogether, 167 delegates with 303 advisers and substitutes took part in the work of the Paris Session. 

Source: Report of the Credentials Committee. 

President

Mr Alexandre Parodi, Minister of Labour and Social Security in the Provisional Government of the French Republic

Vice-presidents

Mr Francisco Trujillo Gurria, Minister of Labour of Mexico

Sir John Forbes Watson, United Kingdom employers' delegate

Mr Gunnar Andersson, Swedish workers' delegate.

Source: Minutes of the First Sitting.

I. Director's Report (social problems of the immediate postwar period with special reference to Europe; future policy and programme of the International Labour Organisation);

II. The maintenance of high levels of employment during the period of industrial rehabilitation and reconversion;

III. Protection of children and young workers (first discussion);

IV. Matters arising out of the work of the Constitutional Committee;

V. Minimum standards of social policy in dependent territories (supplementary provisions);

VI. Reports on the application of Conventions (Article 22 of the Constitution).

The Twenty-Seventh Session of the International Labour Conference held twenty-four plenary sittings, and adopted an Instrument of Amendment and a Recommendation:

  • Instrument for the amendment of the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation
  • Recommendation (No. 74) concerning minimum standards of social policy in dependent territories (supplementary provisions)

Instrument for the Amendment of the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation: Adopted on 5 November 1945 / International Labour Conference, 27th Session, 1945

Resolution to Include the Question of the Protection of Children and Young Workers in the Agenda of the next General Session of the Conference

Resolutions Concerning the Protection of Children and Young Workers, Submitted by the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young Workers

Record of Proceedings

Europe Today: As Portrayed by Speakers at the International Labour Conference in Paris

Official Bulletin: Constitutional Questions

28th Session - Maritime Conference - 1946 (6-29 June) - Seattle, USA

Reports of the Committees on Wages, Hours of Work and Manning of the Maritime Preparatory Technical Conference (Copenhagen, 1945) and the 28th (Maritime) Session of the International Labour Conference (Seattle, 1946)

There were 32 countries represented at the Conference. In all, 106 delegates, among them 58 Government delegates, 25 Workers’ delegates and 23 Employer’s delegates. The Government, Employers’ and Worker’s advisers were 64, 62 and 63, respectively; in total, 189 advisers took part in the session’s work. The total number of persons taking part in the work of the Conference was 295.

Source: Report of the Credentials Committee. 

President

Hon. Henry M. Jackson, Member of the House of Representatives of the United States of America

Vice-presidents

Mr George Strauss, Parliamentary Secretary,  United Kingdom Ministry of Transport.

Mr Emile Deckers, Belgian employers’ delegate

Mr Eugène Ehlers, French workers’ delegate.

Source: Minutes of the First Sitting.

I. Director's Report

II. Social security for seafarers

III. Crew accommodation on board ship

IV. Food and catering on board ship

V. Entry, training and promotion of seafarers

VI. Holidays with pay for seafarers

VII. Continuous employment for seafarers

VIII. Recognition of seafarers' organisations

IX. Wages; hours of work on board ship; manning

The Twenty-Eighth Session of the International Labour Conference held nineteen plenary sittings, and adopted four Recommendations and nine Conventions:

Record of Proceedings

29th Session - 1946 (19 September-9 October) - Montreal, Canada

Committee on Constitutional Questions

Report I of the Conference Delegation on Constitutional Questions

Reports I and II of the Committee on Constitutional Questions: Discussion in Plenary

Reports I and II of the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young Workers

Reports I and II of the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young Workers: Second Discussion in Plenary 

Text of Proposed Convention Concerning Medical Examination for Fitness for Employment in Industry of Children and Young Persons

Text of Proposed Convention Concerning Medical Examination of Children and Young Persons for Fitness for Employment in Non-Industrial Occupations

Text of Proposed Recommendation Concerning the Medical Examination for Fitness for Employment in Industry of Children and Young Persons

The number of States Members represented at the Conference totalled 46. The total number of delegates was 159, of whom 85 were Government delegates, 36 Employers' delegates, 38 Workers' delegates. More, 241 advisers and substitutes, took part in the work of the Session. The total number of persons taking part in the Conference was 428.

Source: Report of the Credentials Committee. 

President

Mr Humphrey Mitchell, Minister of Labour of the Dominion of Canada

Vice-presidents

Mr A. M. Joekes, Netherlands Government delegate

Sir John Forbes Watson, United Kingdom employers' delegate

Mr Carlos Fernández Rodríguez, Cuban workers' delegate

Source: Minutes of the First Sitting.

I. Director's Report

II. Constitutional questions

III. Protection of children and young workers

(a) Medical examination for fitness for employment (young workers), second discussion

(b) Restriction of night work of children and young persons (non-industrial occupations), second discussion

IV. Minimum standards of social policy in dependent territories (provisions suitable for a Convention), first discussion

V. Reports on the application of Conventions (Article 22 of the Constitution)

The Twenty-Ninth Session of the International Labour Conference held nineteen plenary sittings, and adopted an Instrument of Amendment, two Recommendations and four Conventions:

Record of Proceedings

Financial and Budgetary Matters

30th Session - 1947 (19 June-11 July)

Report of the Committee on Freedom of Association

Report of the Committee on Freedom of Association: First Discussion in Plenary

Report of the Committee on Labour Inspection

Report of the Committee on Labour Inspection: Discussion in Plenary

The number of States Members of the Organisation represented at the Conference was 48. The total number of delegates was 173, including 90 Government delegates, 41 Employers' delegates and 42 Workers' delegates; accompanied by 309 advisers or substitutes. The total number of delegates and advisers was 482.

Source: Report of the Credentials Committee. 

President

Mr Carl Joachim Hambro, head of the Norwegian delegation

Vice-presidents

Mr Carlos Eaúl Desmarás, Under-Secretary for Political Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Argentine Republic

Sir John Forbes Watson, United Kingdom employers' delegate

Mr Eobert Watt, United States workers' delegate

Source: Minutes of the First Sitting.

I. Report of the Director-General

II. Financial and budgetary questions

III. Minimum standards of social policy in dependent territories (provisions suitable for a Convention) (second discussion)

IV. Organisation of labour inspection in industrial and commercial undertakings (single discussion)

V. Employment service organisation (first discussion)

VI. Reports on the application of Conventions (Article 22 of the Constitution)

VII. Freedom of association and industrial relations

The Thirtieth Session of the International Labour Conference held twenty plenary sittings, and adopted two Recommendations and six Conventions:

Resolution Concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively, Submitted by the Committee on Freedom of Association

Resolution Concerning the Scope of Labour Inspection

Record of Proceedings