International Labour Organization

What International Labour Organization does

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, established in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It operates through a unique tripartite governance structure engaging governments, employers' organizations, and workers' unions from 187 member states to set international labor standards, promote decent work, and advance social justice. ILO's core output consists of binding international labor conventions (193 adopted since 1919) and recommendations (209), supported by technical cooperation, policy advisory services, capacity building, and research across six regional offices covering Africa, Arab States, Asia-Pacific, Europe/Central Asia, and Latin America/Caribbean.

ILO operates an extensive portfolio of digital information systems: ILOSTAT (global labor statistics database covering 177+ countries), NORMLEX (international labor standards information system incorporating NATLEX, LEGOSH, and EPLex sub-databases), and the AI-powered ReguLens tool for regulatory analysis. Recent product launches include the Just Transition Policy Gateway (June 2026), the Observatory on AI and Work in the Digital Economy, and country-level platforms such as Mongolia's E-Business.mn and Ethiopia's Digital Innovation Hub. ILO generates funding through UN-scaled assessed contributions from member states (US historically contributing 22%) plus voluntary project funding from governments including Switzerland, Norway, Japan, and the EU. The organization faces acute financial pressure in 2026 from US arrears totaling approximately $328 million, prompting announced cuts of 295 positions and the rescission of the US Deputy Director-General appointment.

Name

International Labour Organization

Legal name

International Labour Organization

Website

https://ilo.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a UN specialized agency headquartered in Geneva that sets binding international labor standards and promotes decent work globally through its tripartite governance structure engaging 187 member states' governments, employers, and workers' organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Labour Standards and Decent Work Policy

NAICS

International Affairs (928120), Professional Organizations (81392), Administration of Human Resource Programs (9231)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Labor, Social Protection & Occupational Safety Standards Cooperation (BPADANAM), Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB), Labor & Employment Administration (Workforce Regulation & Programs) (BPAIAAAM), Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG)

Keywords

• International labour standards
• Decent work policy
• Labour market statistics
• Social dialogue governance
• Capacity building training

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member State Assessed Contributions: ILO is funded primarily through assessed contributions from its 187 member states, calculated based on a scale determined by the UN. The US traditionally contributed 22% of the budget. As of May 2026, the US owed approximately 257 million Swiss francs in arrears.
2. Voluntary Contributions and Project Funding: Voluntary contributions from governments, development partners, and international organizations fund specific programs and projects. Examples include Switzerland funding the Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work programme, Norway/Norad funding skills development, Japan funding social protection projects, and EU-funded initiatives.
3. Training and Capacity Building Services: The International Training Centre in Turin (ITCILO) generates revenue through training programs, courses, and capacity-building services delivered to governments, employers, and workers' organizations globally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The International Labour Organization is a United Nations specialized agency that sets international labour standards through conventions and recommendations adopted by its 187 member states, provides technical cooperation and capacity building to governments, employers' and workers' organizations, and produces global labour market research, statistics, and policy advisory services. It operates through a unique tripartite governance structure and delivers its work via headquarters, regional offices, country offices, and the International Training Centre in Turin.

Product overview

The International Labour Organization operates a portfolio of interconnected information systems and platforms focused on labor statistics, international labor standards, and workforce development. The core products include ILOSTAT (primary labor statistics database), NORMLEX (labor standards information system containing NATLEX, LEGOSH, and EPLex sub-databases), and the ILO Integrity Hotline. The organization has recently expanded into AI-powered tools including ReguLens for regulatory analysis and the Just Transition Policy Gateway for ecological transition support. Additional offerings include the Digital Innovation Hub in Ethiopia, technical cooperation programmes like PROMISE II Impact and PROSPECTS, advisory services through the ILO Helpdesk for Business, and multimedia platforms including ILO Live, the AI Observatory, and the Future of Work podcast. The portfolio operates as a platform-plus-services model, combining databases with advisory services, training, and digital tools to support labor market governance worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ILOSTAT

Quantifiable outcome

• 187 member states participating in standard-setting and technical cooperation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and secondary.

• General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Agreement to implement second phase of Union Power project, a nine-month initiative improving workers' access to labour rights, promoting gender equality, and strengthening inclusive social dialogue. Includes field visits, training workshops, and review of collective bargaining agreements.
• EvermoscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Partnership under Promise II Impact project delivering digital entrepreneurship training for vulnerable groups in Indonesia including persons with disabilities and returning migrant workers. Since 2023, over 230 beneficiaries have participated. Evermos provides digital platform and business mentoring; ILO contributes decent work framework and financial literacy.
• UN Agencies and Member StatesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Launch of Just Transition Policy Gateway, the first global platform supporting implementation of just transition policies for decent work and social inclusion in ecological transition. Provides policymakers practical examples, lessons learned, and policy tools.
• Mondelēz InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026Partnership expanding human rights due diligence across cocoa supply chains. Reported approximately 100% Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems coverage in Cocoa Life communities, 100% SMETA audit coverage of owned manufacturing sites, and auditing of 1,200+ tier-1 suppliers.
• Global Coalition for Social JusticeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2026Multi-stakeholder coalition launched by ILO to advance social justice as foundation for peaceful, equitable, and resilient societies. Brings together governments, employers, workers, and civil society.
• China (State Administration for Market Regulation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Five-year workplace safety partnership (2026-2031) signed in Geneva. Collaboration focuses on exchanging regulatory frameworks, building institutional capacity through training, enhancing safety data collection, and promoting new technologies. Operates within Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative frameworks.
• NestlécoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Two-year project promoting labor rights in coffee supply chains across Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. The partnership facilitates social dialogue among governments, employers, and workers to address decent work deficits. Supported by Nestlé's Nescafé Plan 2030 sustainability program and contributes to ILO Fair Recruitment Initiative.
• EnisecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 December 2025Joint program expansion to improve occupational safety, health, and social protection for agricultural workers in Republic of Congo. Following success in Kenya and Côte d'Ivoire, aims to strengthen workplace safety systems and increase access to social protection schemes.
• General Federation of Oman Workers (GFOW)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 December 2025Review and enhancement of partnership between ILO and Oman's trade union system. Discussions focused on legislative reforms, social dialogue, and cooperation on workers' rights and international standards.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• World Trade Organization: Multilateral organization setting binding trade rules among 164 member states. Comparable to ILO in tripartite-adjacent governance (though without worker/employer parity), standard-setting authority, and adjudication of disputes under binding conventions.
• World Health Organization: UN specialized agency with comparable institutional structure (member states, governing body, conventions/regulations), global headquarters, and similar funding model via assessed contributions. Peer in intergovernmental governance and standard-setting, though focused on health rather than labor.
• UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization): UN specialized agency promoting industrial development and decent work in manufacturing across 170+ member states. Shares ILO's focus on productivity, formalization, and supply chain development, with overlapping employer and government constituencies.
• World Bank: Multilateral development institution financing labor market reforms, social protection, and workforce development programs across developing economies. Comparable as a financing and policy advisory peer for labor-related development cooperation, though broader in scope.

Others

• International Labour and Welfare Association: Association focused on labor and welfare policy research and standards. Adjacent thematic peer sharing ILO's mission around labor market institutions and social welfare frameworks, though smaller in scope and reach.

Direct peers

• International Social Security Association: Global association of social security institutions covering 160+ countries, addressing social protection, pensions, and insurance. Directly comparable to ILO's social protection mandate, with overlapping work on universal social protection floors and policy advisory to governments.
• International Trade Union Confederation: Global voice for workers' organizations representing over 200 million workers across 163 countries. ITUC is the direct counterpart to the workers' group in ILO's tripartite structure, engaging on labor standards, collective bargaining, and worker rights — the closest peer to one of ILO's tripartite constituencies.
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: Multilateral standards-setting body producing influential employment, labor, and social policy guidelines across 38 member countries. Comparable to ILO in producing binding/non-binding labor and employment policy frameworks, with significant overlap in employment statistics and labor market analysis.
• International Organisation of Employers: The largest network of employer and business membership organizations worldwide, representing the employers' group in ILO's tripartite structure. IOE directly partners with ILO on labor standards implementation, responsible business conduct, and the ReguLens AI platform — a structurally embedded peer.
• International Organization for Migration: UN-related organization with 175+ member states focused on migration governance, migrant worker rights, and labor mobility. Strong overlap with ILO's Fair Recruitment Initiative and Migrant Worker conventions (C97, C143, C188), serving a closely related constituency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ilo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/ilotv
• Facebookfacebook.com/ilo.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-labour-organization-ilo
• Instagraminstagram.com/ilo.org
• TikToktiktok.com/@ilo

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Labour Organization