Partnerships

At the World Economic Forum in January 1999, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan challenged world business leaders to "embrace and enact" the Global Compact, both in their individual corporate practices and by supporting appropriate public policies. These principles cover topics concerning human rights, labour and the environment.

The Secretary-General asked world business to uphold a number of principles concerning human rights, labour and the environment. In relation to labour issues these principles echo those contained in the ILO's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, which concern –

freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
the effective abolition of child labour;
the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

During 2000 considerable progress was made in giving form and substance to the Global Compact that the United Nations Secretary-General proposed at the World Economic Forum in January 1999. Following various contacts and meetings, Secretary-General Kofi Annan convened a High-Level Meeting on the Global Compact on 26 July 2000 at UN headquarters in New York. The objective was to signal the commitment of world business to promote the universal values of the Global Compact, which include the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Along with heads of UN agencies (ILO, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Environment Programme) participants included representatives of more than 40 multinational companies, as well as the International Organization of Employers (IOE), the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and other business and civil society organizations.

In his remarks, the Director-General singled out four priority areas for cooperation between the ILO and the Global Compact partners and companies:

child labour;
engagement with stakeholders through social dialogue and sectoral meetings;
information exchange on international labour standards and practices, including health and safety in the workplace;
training for managers on fundamental principles and rights at work;

He emphasized two key issues for dialogue – freedom of association and job creation, and the importance of partnership between trade unions and business in advancing the aim of the Compact.

Following this meeting, the Global Compact has gained considerable visibility. An increasing number of companies have expressed interest in the Compact. At the United Nations, the Executive Office of the Secretary-General has decided to establish a United Nations Global Compact Office under its aegis. The United Nations expects the Compact “core agencies” (ILO, UNHCHR, UNEP) to continue to be supportive of the Compact and to play a special role in promoting the Compact and responding to company queries.