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APPENDIX No. 9.—CONVENTION CONCERNING FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE The General Conference of the Internationa] Labour Organization, Having been convened at San Francisco by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office, and having met in its Thirty-first Session on 17 June, 1948; Having decided to adopt, in the form of a Convention, certain proposals concerning freedom of association and protection of the right to organize, which is the seventh item on the Agenda of the session ; Considering that the Preamble to the Constitution of the International Labour Organization declares " recognition of the principle of freedom of association " to be a means of improving conditions of labour and of establishing peace ; Considering that the Declaration of Philadelphia reaffirms that " freedom of expression and of association are essential to sustained progress " ; Considering that the International Labour Conference, at its Thirtieth Session, unanimously adopted the principles which should form the basis for international regulation ; Considering that the General Assembly of the United Nations, at its Second Session, endorsed these principles and requested the International Labour Organization to continue every effort in order that it may be possible to adopt one or several international Conventions ; adopts this 9th day of July of the year one thousand nine hundred and forty-eight the following Convention, which may be cited as the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, 1948 : Part I.—Freedom op Association Article 1 Each member of the International Labour Organization for which this Convention is in force undertakes to give effect to the following provisions. Article 2 Workers and employers, without distinction whatsoever, shall have the right to establish and, subject only to the rules of the organization concerned, to join organizations of their own choosing without previous authorization. Article 3 1. Workers' and employers' organizations shall have the right to draw up their constitutions and rules, to elect their representatives in full freedom, to organize their administration and activities and to formulate their programmes. 2. The public authorities shall refrain from any interference which would restrict this right or impede the lawful exercise thereof. Article 4 Workers' and employers' organizations shall not be liable to be dissolved or suspended by administrative authority. Article 5 Workers' and employers' organizations shall have the right to establish and join federations and confederations and any such organization, federation or confederation shall have the right to affiliate with international organizations of workers and employers.

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