MNEs contributors to creation of employment

The ILO should provide specific guidance to enterprises to promote responsible workplace practices along their supply chains, including through the use of the MNE Declaration. This would include the integration of the concept of decent work, the role of employers and workers organisations, and the importance of workers rights and the business case for sustainable practices into broader enterprise development programs."

Conclusions concerning the promotion of sustainable enterprises - International Labour Conference, June 2007

Multinational enterprises are the principal drivers of globalization and through their investment bring substantial benefits to the working and living conditions of millions of people worldwide. Therefore, they have a vital role to play in promoting economic and social progress.

The Tripartite Declaration of Principles on Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) provides direct guidance to enterprises on social policy and inclusive, responsible and sustainable workplace practices. It was adopted close to 40 years ago (amended in 2000 and 2006) and revised in 2017. Its principles are addressed to MNEs, governments, and employers’ and workers’ organizations and cover areas such as employment, training, conditions of work and life, and industrial relations as well as general policies. All its principles build on international labour standards (ILO conventions and recommendations). The MNE Declaration facilitates outreach and understanding of the Decent Work Agenda in the private sector.

What's new

  1. Training

    International Labour Standards and Corporate Social Responsibility: Understanding workers' rights in the framework of due diligence

    11-15 September 2017, International Training Center of the ILO, Turin, Italy

    This five-day course aims to strengthen the capacity of participants to understand the principles of international labour standards as they relate to company operations (including due diligence related to labour rights) and how those principles can be most effectively implemented in company operations.

  2. News

    ILO revises its landmark Declaration on multinational enterprises

    The revised Tripartite Declaration of principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) adds principles to the Declaration addressing decent work issues related to social security, forced labour, transition from the informal to the formal economy, access to remedy and compensation of victims, inter alia. It provides enhanced guidelines for fostering the contribution of multinational enterprises to achieve decent work for all.

Key Resources

  1. Factsheet

    Engaging multinational enterprises on more and better jobs

  2. E-learning module

    Business and Decent Work: an introduction to the MNE Declaration

    The E-learning module "Business and Decent Work" provides an interactive opportunity to become knowledgeable about the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) and to learn how its recommendations can be put into practice to address a range of labour and employment issues.

  3. International Labour Conference

    Conclusions concerning the promotion of sustainable enterprises - International Labour Conference, June 2007

    01 June 2007

    The conclusions of this discussion provide an important contribution agreed by the ILO’s tripartite constituency of governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations on how to promote enterprise development in a manner that aligns enterprise growth with sustainable development objectives and the creation of productive employment and decent work.