The Philadelphia Declaration was adopted by the International Labour Conference in
1944, and it was a landmark document that helped shape the field of international
labour law. The Declaration affirmed the principles of social justice, economic progress,
and full employment as essential for the well-being of individuals and society as a
whole.
The Philadelphia Declaration also recognized the need for international cooperation to
achieve these goals, and it called for the establishment of an international system of
social security to protect workers and their families from economic and social insecurity.
In Servais' book "International Labour Law" (2009), he discusses the significance of the
Philadelphia Declaration and its impact on the development of international labour law.
He notes that the Declaration was an important step towards the recognition of labour
rights as fundamental human rights and the establishment of international labour
standards to protect these rights.
Furthermore, Servais highlights how the Philadelphia Declaration provided the
foundation for the creation of the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Declaration
on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in 1998. This declaration sets out four
core principles relating to freedom of association and collective bargaining, the
elimination of forced labour, the abolition of child labour, and the elimination of
discrimination in employment.
Overall, the Philadelphia Declaration was a critical moment in the history of international
labour law, and its principles and values continue to influence the development of the
field today.