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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.

Key resources

MNE Declaration
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MNE Declaration

ILO Helpdesk for Business on International Labour Standards
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ILO Helpdesk for Business on International Labour Standards

Company-union dialogue
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Company-union dialogue

MNE Declaration and trade and investment
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MNE Declaration and trade and investment

MNE Declaration in International Framework Agreements
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MNE Declaration in International Framework Agreements

ILO/IOE self-assessment tool for enterprises based on the MNE Declaration
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ILO/IOE self-assessment tool for enterprises based on the MNE Declaration

News and articles

Overview of references made to MNE Declaration in international and regional policy frameworks
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Overview of references made to MNE Declaration in international and regional policy frameworks

Uzbekistan: advancing decent work through the positive contribution of trade, investment and sustainable enterprises
Uzbekistan: advancing decent work_1

Uzbekistan: advancing decent work through the positive contribution of trade, investment and sustainable enterprises

Highlighted publications

The ILO MNE Declaration: What’s in it for Workers?
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The ILO MNE Declaration: What’s in it for Workers?

Assessing the Impact of FDI on Decent Work - Exploring KPIs for Foreign Direct Investment Impact Assessment
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Assessing the Impact of FDI on Decent Work - Exploring KPIs for Foreign Direct Investment Impact Assessment

The elimination of child labour and its root causes – the guidance offered by the ILO MNE Declaration
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The elimination of child labour and its root causes – the guidance offered by the ILO MNE Declaration

Publications

Promoting gender equality through responsible business conduct: the role of governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations

ILO brief

Promoting gender equality through responsible business conduct: the role of governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations

Businesses leading the way on disability inclusion

A compilation of good corporate practices

Businesses leading the way on disability inclusion

Engaging multinational enterprises on more and better jobs

Engaging multinational enterprises on more and better jobs

Highlighted training resources

E-learning: Business and Decent Work
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E-learning: Business and Decent Work

International Labour Standards and Responsible Business Conduct the labour dimension of human rights due diligence
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International Labour Standards and Responsible Business Conduct the labour dimension of human rights due diligence

Effective investment facilitation and sustainable development
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Effective investment facilitation and sustainable development

Contact

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

Related topics

Supply chains
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Supply chains

Sustainable enterprises
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Sustainable enterprises

Responsible business conduct
Workers on a factory floor

Responsible business conduct