HQ Function

Serves as the global secretariat (International Labour Office) for the ILO, coordinating its worldwide activities, research, standard-setting processes, and policy development. It hosts the annual International Labour Conference and Governing Body meetings.

Notable Features:

The building, designed by Eugène Beaudouin, Alberto Camenzind, and Pier Luigi Nervi, is a prominent example of modernist architecture. It features a large conference hall, an extensive library on labour and social issues, and offers views of Lake Geneva and the Alps.

Work Culture:

The ILO HQ fosters a diverse, multicultural, and multilingual work environment, with staff from across its member states. The culture emphasizes collaboration, research, policy expertise, and a strong commitment to social justice, international cooperation, and tripartite dialogue. It is a formal and professional setting typical of major international organizations.

HQ Significance:

The Geneva headquarters is the operational and political heart of the ILO's global efforts to promote decent work. It is where international labour standards are deliberated and adopted, global labour policies are formulated, and technical cooperation programs are managed. Its location in Geneva, a major hub for international diplomacy, facilitates collaboration with other UN agencies, NGOs, and international bodies.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters' design, with its large assembly halls and meeting spaces, reflects the ILO's commitment to dialogue and its tripartite structure (governments, employers, workers). Its international staff and role as a global meeting point underscore its values of universality, social justice, and international solidarity.

Location:

The ILO maintains a significant global presence through its headquarters in Geneva, a network of five regional offices (Africa, Americas, Arab States, Asia-Pacific, Europe-Central Asia), numerous country offices, decent work technical support teams, and liaison offices. This extensive network allows the ILO to effectively implement its mandate worldwide by: developing and supervising international labour standards; providing technical cooperation and advisory services to member states; conducting research and disseminating knowledge on labour and social issues; promoting fundamental principles and rights at work; fostering decent employment opportunities; enhancing social protection; and strengthening tripartism and social dialogue globally.

Street Address:

Route des Morillons 4

City:

Geneva

State/Province:

Geneva

Country:

Switzerland