Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)

The Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention addresses anti-union discrimination and collective bargaining between workers’ and employers’ organisations to regulate employment. The Convention is part of the eight fundamental ILO conventions for the protection of labour rights.

The Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No. 98) sets out rules for the freedom of unionisation and collective bargaining, principles that belong to the core values of the ILO. The Convention ensures workers protection from discrimination for their membership or engagement in union activities. State parties to the Convention commit to setting up a regulatory authority on the national level to supervise and safeguard non-discrimination. Furthermore, the Convention lays out principles for the collective bargaining between workers’ and employers’ organisations to regulate employment. The Committee of Experts is responsible for the supervision of the effective implementation of the convention. It is also responsible for reviewing the State Party reports, which must be submitted every three years. The Committee on Freedom of Association supports the monitoring activities and investigates complaints against States brought forward by workers or employers’ organisations, regardless of whether the State is a party to the Convention or not The Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention is part of the 15 core conventions covered under the GSP regulation.

CEACR / ILO