A37. Why does the ILO say that it supervises the implementation of Conventions? What does that mean? Does it inspect ships?

The ILO is an international organization that was created in 1919. It was the first specialized agency to be designated by the United Nations. Its Members are countries that have joined the Organization and its work is carried out through the International Labour Office. As an international organization, the ILO does not implement international law or directly regulate workers or employers (or shipowners, ships or seafarers) [see A7.]. Its role is to facilitate the development of international standards and to promote and assist with implementation by its Members at the national level. Under the MLC, 2006 the Director- General of the ILO does have some specific responsibilities related to the receipt and communication of information required by the Convention to be provided to Members. The ILO also undertakes a review of its Members’ national implementation of ratified Conventions through the usual oversight role taken by the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations under the ILO supervisory system (a system established under the Constitution of the ILO) 33 .


33 Information about the ILO’s supervisory system is available on the ILO website under the heading “Labour standards”, and the links under the subheading “Supervisory bodies and procedures” at: www.ilo.org/normes.


General questions about the MLC, 2006