IV. Indigenous peoples 1. Historical background he ILO began its work on indigenous peoples in the 1930s when its attention was drawn to what were then termed ‘native workers’. The issue concerned plantations and farms in former colonies where the local populations provided the bulk of the labour, often in exploitative conditions. The prevalence of this problem in different parts of the world led to the ILO adopting the Forced Labour Convention (No. 29) in 1930. It was while following the implementation of this Convention, that the ILO realized that indigenous peoples’ issues had to be addressed in a different way. In 1936, the ILO adopted the first international instrument specific to indigenous peoples. This concerned recruitment for economic development schemes (Convention No. 50 on Recruiting of Indigenous Workers) (1936), oriented from an employers’ perspective. The ILO also adopted several Conventions relating to penal sanctions and contracts of employment for indigenous workers in dependent territories. Many of these have since been denounced or fallen into disuse, as they are no longer relevant or appropriate. In the 1950s, the ILO undertook the following: • The creation of an Expert Committee on Indigenous Labour (1951–4);27 • The implementation of the Andean Indian Programme (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela) between 1954 and 1973. The ILO led this multi-agency effort to assist indigenous peoples in the region; • The publication in 1953 of Indigenous peoples: Living and working conditions of aboriginal populations in independent countries.28 These steps laid the foundation for the ILO’s work with indigenous peoples and on indigenous rights.29 The ILO’s current activities in this field include: research, standard-setting and technical assistance. T 2. ILO Conventions on indigenous peoples o date, the ILO is the only body to have adopted international Conventions which are exclusive to indigenous peoples: • Convention No. 107 on Indigenous and Tribal Populations (1957); T • Convention No. 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (1989). The ILO has taken a flexible approach when considering indigenous questions, and has often worked directly with NGOs and indigenous organizations, as well as with trade unions. In supervising the application of relevant Conventions (see later for details), this has offered an opportunity for indigenous organizations and concerned NGOs to work more closely with the ILO in promoting and protecting indigenous rights. 2.1. Convention No. 107 on Indigenous and Tribal Populations (1957) The ILO Expert Committee on Indigenous Labour recommended to the International Labour Conference that it consider ‘the social problems of indigenous populations in independent countries’. As a result, in 1957 Convention No. 107 on Indigenous and Tribal Populations was adopted. At the time of its adoption the approach towards indigenous peoples was paternalistic, with integration being a major aim: ‘The Convention proceeds from the basic assumption that integration into the dominant society should be the objective of all programmes affecting indigenous and tribal peoples.’30 The ILO no longer takes this approach, and integration is not an issue of concern or of interest to the supervisory bodies. The following is a summary of the Convention:31 Aim of the Convention • Progressive integration into national life (without forced assimilation); • Protection of the peoples32 concerned. Scope33 • Indigenous populations; • Tribal or semi-tribal peoples. Elements • Equality and non-discrimination in employment and occupation; THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION: A HANDBOOK FOR MINORITIES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 19