Special Supervisory Mechanisms concerning Freedom of Association

Because of the importance attached to freedom of association principles, the ILO has established -- in addition to the regular system of supervision -- special machinery for their enforcement

Special freedom of association machinery began evolving at the time the International Labour Conference was discussing for adoption Conventions Nos. 87 and 98. The need for special machinery stemmed from the fact that if a State did not ratify these Conventions there would be no means of supervising their application. Moreover, the existing regular machinery did not permit the expedited examination of complaints concerning infringement in practice.

These special supervisory mechanisms are described briefly below.

Follow the links for more details.

Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA)

a tripartite committee of the Governing Body established in 1951;
examines complaints from governments, workers' and employers' organizations that member States of the ILO are not respecting basic principles of freedom of association;
meets three times a year and has examined since its establishment nearly 2000 cases;
complaints may be examined whether or not the country concerned has ratified the ILO's Conventions on the subject, as the procedure is based on constitutional principles;
if the Conventions are ratified and there are legislative issues raised, the Committee's conclusions receive follow-up from the Committee of Experts.

Fact-Finding and Conciliation Commission on Freedom of Association (FFCC)

created by agreement with ECOSOC in 1950;
examines complaints of infringement of trade union rights referred to it by the ILO's Governing Body in respect of both countries which have ratified the FOA Conventions and those which have not, though in the latter case referral may not be made without the consent of the country concerned;
may also examine complaints of violations of freedom of association against non-member States of the ILO when such complaints are forwarded to it by the United Nations and the country consents;
composed of nine independent members appointed by the Governing Body working in panels of three.