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What was the relationship between the League of Nations and the International Labour Organization?

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Delegates in formal attire seated closely together at an international League of Nations conference, circa 1930. — League of Nations Delegates attending a League of Nations meeting, c. 1930.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) was established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League of Nations.1

The relationship between the two organizations was defined by a unique administrative structure: while the ILO was considered administratively a part of the League, it functioned as an otherwise autonomous body. This autonomy allowed the ILO to operate with its own distinct mandate focused on improving labour conditions and living standards worldwide.21

Financially, the League of Nations provided the budget for the ILO, alongside its own central organs and the permanent court. Despite this shared financial framework, the ILO maintained its independence in its research and legislative efforts, which included defining international labour standards and fostering collaboration among workers, employers, and government delegates. Following the dissolution of the League, the ILO transitioned to become the first specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946.21