The ILO Governing Body and the MNE Declaration

The Governing Body of the International Labour Office first adopted the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy at its 204th Session (November 1977), subsequently amended it at its 279th Session (November 2000) and 295th Session (March 2006). The MNE Declaration was substantially reviewed by the Governing body at its 329th Session (March 2017) taking into account developments such as the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011) and the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2015). Most recently, the Governing Body of the MNE Declaration at its 346thsession (2022) following the decision of the International Labour Conference to add “a safe and healthy working environment” to the ILO’s Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

The Governing Body invites governments of States Members of the ILO, the employers’ and workers’ organizations concerned and the multinational enterprises operating in their territories to observe the principles of the MNE Declaration.

The Governing Body has the overall responsibility for the promotion of the MNE Declaration and reviews on a regular basis the overall strategy and underlying activities to promote the instrument together with governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations in all ILO member States. The Multinational Enterprises segment – part of the Governing Body’s Policy Development section – “examines the effect given to the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, considers requests for interpretation of the Declaration (interpretation procedure), and monitors activities of the ILO and other organizations regarding multinational enterprises, it being understood that other aspects of the activities of multinational enterprises may if necessary be examined by other segments.”

The Governing Body is composed of 56 titular members (28 Governments, 14 Employers and 14 Workers) and 66 deputy members (28 Governments, 19 Employers and 19 Workers). Ten of the titular government seats are permanently held by States of chief industrial importance (Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States). The other Government members are elected by the International Labour Conference every three years. The Employer and Worker members are elected in their individual capacity.

Most recent decisions:

• Decision concerning the promotion of the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and responsible business conduct (356th session, March-April 2026)
  • Promotion of the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and responsible business conduct (GB.356/POL/5)
• Decision concerning the promotional activities with regard to the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, including in the context of relevant developments outside the ILO (350th session, March 2024)
  • Promotional activities with regard to the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, including in the context of relevant developments outside the ILO (GB.350/POL/5)
• Decision on taking stock five years after the adoption of the revised MNE Declaration (346th Session. October- November 2022)
  • Taking stock five years after the adoption of the revised Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (GB.346/POL/5)
• Decision on Promotional activities with regard to the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and related developments outside the ILO (341st Session, March 2021)
  • Promotional activities with regard to the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and related developments outside the ILO (GB.341/POL/5)
• Decision on the promotional activities concerning the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and related developments outside of the ILO (337th Session, October 2019
  • Promotional activities concerning the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and related developments outside of the ILO (GB.337/POL/3)
• Decision concerning the review of the MNE Declaration follow-up mechanism comprising promotional activities and an information-gathering system (332th Session, March 2018)
  • Review of the MNE Declaration follow-up mechanism comprising promotional activities and an information-gathering system (GB.332/POL/6)
• Decision on the recommendations of the tripartite ad hoc working group concerning the review of the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy text, annex and addenda and the interpretation procedure (329th Session, March 2017)
  • Recommendations of the tripartite ad hoc working group concerning the review of the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy text, annex and addenda and the interpretation procedure (GB.329/POL/7)
• Decision on the proposed modalities to review the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (326th Session, March 2016)
  • Proposed modalities to review the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (GB.326/POL/8)
• Decision on the update on the implementation of the promotional framework and follow-up to the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, including ILO collaboration with other intergovernmental and international organizations (325th Session, November 2015)
  • Update on the implementation of the promotional framework and follow-up to the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, including ILO collaboration with other intergovernmental and international organizations (GB.325/POL/9)
• Decision on the ILO collaboration with other intergovernmental and international organizations in promoting the principles of the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (322th Session, November 2014)
  • ILO collaboration with other intergovernmental and international organizations in promoting the principles of the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (GB.322/POL/8)
• Decision on the implementation strategy for the follow-up mechanism of and promotional activities on the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) (320th Session, March 2014)
  • Implementation strategy for the follow-up mechanism of and promotional activities on the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) (GB.320/POL/10)

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