The Convention concerning Tripartite Consultations to Promote the Implementation of International Labour Standards was adopted in Geneva on 21 June 1976 by the International Labour Conference, 61st Session, opened on 2 June, the English and French texts being equally authentic. C144. Depositary: the Director-General of the International Labour Office. It is not Recommendation 152, adopted the same session, nor C87 or C98, which the preamble recalls. The ILO adoption formula is the register date; authentication by the Conference President and the Director-General may be the next day.

Article 1: “representative organisations” means the most representative organisations of employers and workers enjoying the right of freedom of association. Article 2: each Member which ratifies undertakes to operate procedures ensuring effective consultations between government, employers and workers on the ILO activities in Article 5; the form is determined in accordance with national practice. Article 3: the representatives of employers and workers shall be freely chosen by their organisations, on an equal footing. Article 4: the competent authority shall assume administrative support. A bargaining handbook is not transcribed.

Article 5, at framework level: consultations on government replies to Conference questionnaires, proposals for the submission of Conventions and Recommendations (article 19 of the Constitution), re-examination of unratified instruments, reports under article 22, and proposals for denunciation; at least once a year. Article 6: an annual report where appropriate. A ratification or denunciation playbook is not set out here.

Article 7: formal ratifications shall be communicated to the Director-General for registration. Article 8: it binds only Members whose ratifications have been registered; it comes into force twelve months after two ratifications have been registered; for any later Member, twelve months after its own registration. ILO: 16 May 1978. Article 9: denunciation after ten years, taking effect one year after registration.

Cover: the ILO building in Geneva, by the lake; we do not claim the hall. Wikimedia Commons, free licence.

Sources consulted: Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976; Convention concerning Tripartite Consultations to Promote the Implementation of International Labour Standards (ILO C144).