The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-04-07

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The full o. S. delegation from
government, labor and management
will number about 80.
1t probably won't do to kiss all
this off as convention Of interna-
tional do-gooders about to make
over the forld by passing pious res
olutionS. I. L. 0. is entitled to q
bow and better acquaintance If fol-
no other reason than that 1t Is al
most the only usefully functioning
survivor of the late Treaty Of Yer
! sailles and the League of Nations
I. L. o. has kept since 1919, and 1t
has done things.
What has the United States got
out of the I. L. o. participation
Well, for one thing it has ratified,
through Congress, five Of the 81
conventions or resolutions which
I. L. o. has passed. These five re-
late to minimum standards for en-
ployment and hours Of work, protec-
ton Of women and children, indus
trial accident prevention and COM
pensation, employment conditions
for merchant seamen, and social Sc
curity.
RATIFICATION IS OPTIONAL
Having accepted the principles of
these conventions, 1t Is incumbent
upon any ratifying country to live
up to their minimum standards.
Ratification Of convention is not
compulsory on any country belong
ing to I. L. O., so the Philadelphia
session is in no sense a world parli-
ament or super state, telling gov
ernments what postwar social Sc
curity labor laws they must enact.
The codes are simply there, in case
any country wants to adopt them.
One Of the delicate points to be
considered at Philadelphia, however,
Is whether I. L. o. should have the
right to inspect countries on COM
pliance with conventions, or wheth-
er the countries should be required
to report to I. L. O. on compliance
Benefits Of I. L. O. to the United
States fall broadly in two classes.
Specific benefits accrue when the
United States Is considering new
legislation on such subjects as social
security, wages and hours, or the
prevention of industrial diseases
such as silicosis. It can then call up
on I. L. o. for the experience and
technical advice Of experts from
other countries.
Long-range benefits to the United
States accrue from helping other
countries with less developed econ
omies raise their conditions Of en-
ployment to something approximate
ing the American standard Of living.
The higher the standards Of other
countries, the better the chance Of
American. industry to complete for
world trade on equal terms.
AN INTERNATIONAL UPLIFT
The agenda for the forthcoming
Philadelphia I. L. o. session Is a
large order of social workers up
lift on an international scale.
It will try to write recommended
lions to the United Nations on how
to expand employment, make inter-
national investment to restore de-
vastated areas.
It will try to set minimum stand
ards Of wages, social insurance and
worker representation in dependent.
liberated and defeated countries.
It will try to write an information
al character Of social rights based
on the -Four Freedoms.
It will try to say something about
the need for international full en-
ployment and might even take a
stand on postwar international
public works to help along.
Judge what stand the United
States delegation will take on these
things won't be announced till Ma
dam Perkins gets her alternate and
advises together. just before the
session. The U. s. will have one vote,
which will be cast by Madam Per-
kins herself.
Cost Of u. s. participation in I. l..
O. Is $247 ,047.40 a year.