Founded in 1919, by the treaty of Versailles, the International Labour Organization is a specialized agency of the UN which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally  recognized human and labour rights. The ILO formulates international labour standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations setting minimum standards of basic labour rights: freedom of association, the right to organize, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, equality  of opportunity and treatment, and  other standards regulating conditions across the entire spectrum of work related issues. It provides technical assistance primarily in the fields of:

-   Vocational training and vocational rehabilitation

-   Employment policy

-   Labour administration

-   Labour law and industrail relations

-   Working conditions

-   Management development

-   Cooperatives

-   Social security

-   Labour statics and occupational safety and health

It promotes the development of independent employers" and workers" organizations and provides training and advisory services to those organizations. Within the UN system, the ILO has a unique tripartite with workers and employers participating as equal partners with governments in the work of its governing organs. The International Labour Office in Geneva is the sercretariat of the Organization.