Abstract
A PAMPHLET, "The New I.L.O", issued by the British Association for Labour Legislation, with an introduction by Barbara Ward, considers the position of the International Labour Organisation in relation to the Economic and Social Council of the Dumbarton Oaks plan, with the object of stimulating discussion on the planning of international co-operation in social and economic matters. Reviewing the past experience of the International Labour Organisation, the pamphlet is critical of the tripartite structure and questions the value of representation of employers except on the managerial or technical basis. A government should be the representative of the community as a whole, but governments should admit the workers also to the discussion of economic as well as of social problems, primarily to provide tech-nical and constructive advice. In view of the clash and overlapping between general economic and social questions, the pamphlet appears to be dubious as to the continued existence of the International Labour Organisation as an entity, though this is not made clear. It is suggested, however, that the whole of the positive functions of the Economic and Social Council of the Dumbarton Oaks plan for constructing peace, as distinct from preventing war, should be discharged by bodies corresponding to those set up in 1918–an assembly, or conference, a council or governing body, and a secretariat or office, with committees to provide technical advice as required. The council would include representatives of the workers as well as governments and would take the place of the governing body of the International Labour Organisation. Its functions would include determining the agenda of the assembly, which itself would not be limited to government representatives. The secretariat would be divided into departments dealing, for example, with conditions of labour, with economic problems, with health and housing, with dependent territories and so forth, but with close inter-departmental relations. This plan would telescope the constructive functions of the old League of Nations secretariat and those of the International Labour Office, while employers or managers would find their place along with other professional men in the special committees created to advise on technical and practical issues. Although the Dumbarton Oaks plan is now, of course, submerged in the United Nations, Charter, this pamphlet provides useful material for careful consideration.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
International Co-operation in Social and Economic Fields. Nature 156, 231–232 (1945). https://doi.org/10.1038/156231c0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/156231c0