The International Labour Organization was founded in 1919.
The organization was created as part of the Treaty of Versailles settlement after World War I. Its founders argued that lasting peace required social justice and better labor conditions, because severe exploitation and inequality could contribute to political instability.
The ILO brought together governments, employers, and workers in a distinctive tripartite structure. It develops international labor standards and promotes decent work, occupational safety, social protection, and dialogue among the three groups.
The ILO became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946. Its founding year is different from the year International Workers’ Day was established as a movement tradition and from the year Labor Day became a U.S. federal holiday.