The MNE Declaration and gender equality

The realization of gender equality in the world of work and women’s economic empowerment is essential to achieving inclusive economic growth, social justice, and poverty reduction. Through transformative public and private policies, underpinned by social dialogue, gender equality can become a reality.

The Resolution and Conclusions concerning the ILO transformative agenda for gender equality in the world of work, adopted by the International Labour Conference in 2026, underscores the critical contribution that enterprises can make to advancing gender equality through responsible business conduct. They call on governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations to "promote responsible business conduct and gender-responsive policies and practices, including through human rights due diligence, in accordance with the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, as amended in 2022, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights."

The ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) provides direct guidance to enterprises—both multinational and national—as well as to governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations on maximizing the positive contribution of business to decent work while preventing, mitigating, and addressing adverse impacts on labour rights and employment. It offers multiple entry points for advancing gender equality in the world of work.

Grounded in international labour standards, including the principles set out in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the MNE Declaration provides guidance on promoting equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation, with a view to eliminating discrimination in the world of work. It also calls on governments to promote equal remuneration for women and men for work of equal value. Together, these principles provide a foundation for policies and practices that foster more equitable workplaces and help close persistent gender gaps.

The MNE Declaration further highlights areas where responsible business conduct can contribute to women's economic empowerment. For example, it encourages multinational enterprises, wherever practicable, to conclude contracts with national enterprises. This can strengthen business linkages with women-owned enterprises, stimulate women's entrepreneurship, and support the growth of both emerging and established women-led businesses.

The Declaration also calls on governments, particularly in developing countries, to adopt measures that ensure lower-income groups and less developed areas benefit as much as possible from the activities of multinational enterprises. Given that women are disproportionately represented among lower-income populations, such measures can contribute to reducing gender-based economic inequalities. The MNE Declaration encourages governments to develop and implement integrated policy frameworks to facilitate formalization and calls on multinational and other enterprises to support these efforts. Because women are disproportionately represented in informal employment—where access to decent work, social protection, and social security is often limited—policies and business practices that promote formalization and extend social protection can have a transformative impact on gender equality.

The MNE Declaration reaffirms the importance of freedom of association and collective bargaining. As fundamental and enabling rights, they have played a pivotal role in advancing gender equality by supporting improvements in working conditions, equal treatment, and measures such as maternity protection. Strengthening these rights remains essential for achieving further progress towards gender equality in the world of work.

The ILO advances the gender dimension of the responsible business conduct and business and human rights agenda in collaboration with a range of international partners, including UN Women, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the UN Global Compact.