The ILO is the only “tripartite” United Nations agency. Within the ILO, governments, employers and workers are represented on an equal footing and with full independence. They are seen as essential components of the world of work, and their representatives come together to discuss and adopt labour standards, policies and programmes.

Tripartite social dialogue is an important pillar of the ILO Decent Work Strategy, as set out in the 2008 Social Justice Declaration. It contributes to social justice, sustainable development, economic progress, good quality jobs and democratization of social and economic policies.

One of the main priorities of the ILO is to make tripartite structures and approaches work effectively in each of its member States. The Office is therefore strongly committed to strengthening the capacity of workers’ organizations and employers’ organizations to support their members effectively, influence socio-economic policies, assist labour administrations with capacity development, and promote sound industrial relations through effective social dialogue.

The Training Centre in Turin contributes to achieving those objectives through an extensive training portfolio. The Programme for Workers’ Activities and the Programme for Employers’ Activities, in close cooperation with the Workers' and Employers' Groups of the ILO Governing Body, offer a number of training courses that strengthen worker and employer organizations in all the fields of the ILO Decent Work Agenda. The Social Dialogue, Labour Law and Labour Administration Programme offers courses that develop the competences of labour administrations and promote social dialogue among the constituents of the ILO. The ITC also organizes courses to help in setting up and strengthening national and regional tripartite social dialogue bodies.