Nordic ILO Report 2017

International issues In the beginning of the 1990s, employers and conservative governments questioned the standard-setting system of the ILO. This trend was also advancing through the Nordic countries.


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Conventions ratified by the Nordic countries

The general argument was that there was a decline in the number of ratifications of new ILO Conventions. In order to take part in this debate, it has been important to carry out a Nordic study. Therefore, the Nordic trade union ILO group has observed the scope of ratifications of the ILO Conventions in the Nordic countries during 1980-2016.

This report is based on data from the Nordic trade unions reflecting the discussions in national ILO committees, as well as statistical material from the ILO. It shows which conventions have been ratified by the Nordic countries and also comments on the problems of ratification and analyses the reasons.

Encourage a national discussion

The present study is an update of earlier studies carried out  in 1998, 2001 and 2008. The aim of this report is to find out more about the reasons and arguments used against ratifying certain ILO Conventions and encourage a national discussion in the Nordic countries, to proceed with the non-ratified ILO Conventions. Hopefully this  leads to new ratifications in the future.

Nordic ILO Report 2017, ILO Conventions ratified by the Nordic countries in the period 1980-2016 (pdf)