Multinational enterprises

Through their globalized production systems, their subsidiaries and extended value chains, multinational enterprises (MNEs) represent an important share of the private sector in many developing and industrialised economies. With their extensive reach, investment decisions and business relationships, MNEs have a significant potential to contribute to the realization of decent work. The contribution of the private sector to the Sustainable development goals is recognized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for financing development, as well as the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization.

To guide and encourage the positive contribution which MNEs can make to socio-economic development and minimize the negative impacts of their operations, the ILO promotes the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration). The MNE Declaration provides clear and comprehensive guidance on and to multinational (and national) enterprises on how they can contribute to decent work by observing in their policies and practices recommendations in the areas of employment, training, conditions of work and life, industrial relations, as well as by observing general principles.

For more information, contact the ILO's Multinational Enterprises and Responsible Business Conduct Unit at multi@ilo.org.