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C087 - Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise
Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
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Preamble
The General Conference of the International Labour Organisation,
Having been convened at San Francisco by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office, and having met in its Thirty-first Session
on 17 June 1948;
Having decided to adopt, in the form of a Convention, certain proposals concerning freedom of association and protection of the right to
organise, which is the seventh item on the agenda of the session;
Considering that the Preamble to the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation declares "recognition of the principle of freedom
of association" to be a means of improving conditions of labour and of establishing peace;
Considering that the Declaration of Philadelphia reaffirms that "freedom of expression and of association are essential to sustained progress";
Considering that the International Labour Conference, at its Thirtieth Session, unanimously adopted the principles which should form the
basis for international regulation;
Considering that the General Assembly of the United Nations, at its Second Session, endorsed these principles and requested the
International Labour Organisation to continue every effort in order that it may be possible to adopt one or several international Conventions;
adopts this ninth day of July of the year one thousand nine hundred and forty-eight the following Convention, which may be cited as the
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948:
PART I. FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION
Article 1
Each Member of the International Labour Organisation for which this Convention is in force undertakes to give effect to the following provisions.
Article 2
Workers and employers, without distinction whatsoever, shall have the right to establish and, subject only to the rules of the organisation
concerned, to join organisations of their own choosing without previous authorisation.
Article 3
1. Workers' and employers' organisations shall have the right to draw up their constitutions and rules, to elect their representatives in full
freedom, to organise their administration and activities and to formulate their programmes.
2. The public authorities shall refrain from any interference which would restrict this right or impede the lawful exercise thereof.
Article 4
Workers' and employers' organisations shall not be liable to be dissolved or suspended by administrative authority.
Article 5
Workers' and employers' organisations shall have the right to establish and join federations and confederations and any such organisation,
federation or confederation shall have the right to affiliate with international organisations of workers and employers.