Sustainable enterprises
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Sustainable enterprises

The ILO is the only UN body that brings together representatives of governments, employers and workers to jointly shape policies and programmes promoting sustainable enterprises. Drawing on the latest thinking on sustainable development, private sector promotion and good corporate citizenship, the ILO’s International Labour Conference in 2007 addressed the imperatives of sustainable development, fair globalization and the role of enterprises. In its Conclusions it set out a programme for and provided guidance on the promotion of sustainable enterprises. The Sustainable Enterprise Programme applies to businesses of all sizes, from micro to multinational, and all types, including cooperatives and social enterprises. The programme is based on three interrelated and mutually supportive pillars:

1. Creating enabling environment

Assisting member countries to assess and where necessary to adapt policies, laws and regulations. The goal is to encourage investment and entrepreneurship that balances the needs and interests of the enterprise – both workers and employers with the broader aspirations of society.

Reform the business environment

  1. Factsheet on reforming the business environment
Fostering future entrepreneurs

  1. Factsheet on fostering future entrepreneurs
The cooperative way of doing business

  1. Factsheet on cooperatives
Boosting local economy

  1. Factsheet on local economic development

2. Entrepreneurship and Business Development

Helping entrepreneurs - including special target groups like youth and women to start and build successful enterprises. The programme supports efforts to stimulate entrepreneurship through training, provision of business development services, access to information, technology and finance, and connecting enterprises to local value chains.

Small Enterprise

  1. Factsheet on entrepreneurship and small enterprise management training
Women's entrepreneurship development

  1. Factsheet on women's entrepreneurship development
Value chain development for more and better jobs

  1. Factsheet on value chain development
The social economy

  1. Factsheet on the social economy
Enterprise and the green economy

  1. Factsheet on the enterprise and the green economy

3. Sustainable and Responsible Workplace

Linking productivity improvements to better working conditions, good industrial relations and good environmental practices. This includes promoting social dialogue and collective bargaining as well as human resource development in order to raise productivity, minimize use of energy and materials, and reduce environmental impacts; for increased wages and shared benefits; and for good corporate governance and responsible business practices.

Responsible global business

  1. Factsheet on responsible global business
Responsible workplace practices

  1. Factsheet on responsible workplace practices

What's new

  1. Event

    Potential and Limits of Social and Solidarity Economy
    4 March 2013

    Through this event UNRISD aims to raise the visibility of debates about SSE within the United Nations system and beyond, and contribute to thinking in international policy circles about a post-2015 development agenda.

  2. News

    Reform of ILO headquarters: ILO Headquarters Organizitional Structure
    1 March 2013

  3. Publication

    The enabling environment for sustainable enterprises in Malawi
    28 February 2013

    The report is designed to stimulate debate and to provide an evidence base for policy reforms for an environment more conducive to the promotion of sustainable enterprises in Malawi.

  4. Event

    Enterprise Development through Value Chains and Business Service Markets
    4 February 2013

    The course is highly relevant for professionals developing and implementing Value Chain and enterprise development projects in rural and urban areas.
    It offers a unique on-the-job learning opportunity using practical tools and lessons from enterprise development programs that have reached thousands of small enterprises in rural and urban areas.
     

  5. Publication

    Guidelines for cooperative legislation, third revised edition
    11 December 2012

    Provides guidance on how to draft a cooperative law.

  6. Publication

    A cooperative future for people with disabilities
    4 December 2012

Policy framework

  1. The promotion of sustainable enterprises, Report VI, International Labour Conference, 96th Session, 2007
  2. Conclusions concerning the promotion of sustainable enterprises, International Labour Conference, June 2007
  3. Tripartite declaration of principles concerning multinational enterprises and social policy (MNE Declaration) - 4th Edition
  4. Job Creation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Recommendation, 1998 (No. 189)
  5. Promotion of Cooperatives Recommendation, 2002 (No. 193)
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