Employers collect personal data on job applicants and workers for a number of purposes: to comply with law; to assist in selection for employment, training and promotion; and to ensure personal safety, personal security, quality control, consumer service and the protection of property. New ways of collecting and processing personal data, in many cases made possible by advances in technology, entail some new risks for workers. While various national laws and international standards have established binding procedures for the processing of personal data, there is a need to develop data protection provisions which specifically address the use of workers' personal data in order to safeguard the dignity of workers, protect their privacy, and guarantee their fundamental right to determine who may use which data for what purpose and under what conditions.

The purpose of this code of practice is to provide guidance on the protection of workers' personal data. It covers general principles about protection of personal data and specific provisions regarding the collection, security, storage, use and communication of such data. Guidance on individual and collective rights of workers and the role of employment agencies are also given.

While this code of practice does not replace national laws, regulations, international labour standards or other accepted norms, it can be used in the development of legislation, regulations, collective agreements, work rules, policies and practical measures at enterprise level.

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