The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the multilateral agency of the United Nations responsible for the elaboration and supervision of International Labor Standards. The tripartite nature of this agency brings together governments, employers and workers of its member states. International Labor Standards take the form of conventions or recommendations covering a variety of issues related to labor rights, employment, social security, social policy and related human rights.

The issue of trade and international labor standards has been present at the WTO over the years. This issue has been specifically mentioned in Ministerial Declarations.

The topic of international labor standards has been treated in different ways within the framework of subregional integration systems. Free trade agreements and unilateral preferential schemes vary both in the number of topics covered and in the level of the commitment of parties.

Various transnational regulatory initiatives are being promoted by public or private international entities. International cooperation has played an important role in the development of different initiatives aimed at promoting the implementation of international labor standards and generating higher levels of equality and dignity at work.