Labour Issues in Responsible Business Conduct

Labour rights—universally recognized in International Labour Standards (ILS)—are a critical element of responsible business conduct. The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, as well as the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, reference ILS. This course, specifically designed for National Contact Points (NCPs) for Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) and funded by the Trade for Decent Work ILO-EU partnership, focuses on the labour component of responsible business practices. It explains the provisions of each key area of labour rights and explains what information, tools and other resources are available from ILO. OBJECTIVES Labour rights—universally recognized in International Labour Standards (ILS)—are a critical element of responsible business conduct. The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, as well as the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, reference ILS. This course, specifically designed for National Contact Points (NCPs) for Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) and funded by the Trade for Decent Work ILO-EU partnership, focused on the labour component of responsible business practices. It explained the provisions of each key area of labour rights and explained what information, tools and other resources are available from ILO. CONTENT Participants at the course used the International Labour Standards, as well as operational tools and resources made available through ILO, to implement promotional activities and facilitate constructive dialogue: • The ILO’s labour standards system and normative instruments; • Child labour, forced labour, non-discrimination, freedom of association, and collective Bargaining; • Working conditions, including hours of work, and wages; • Experiences and best practices as per the ILO’s technical cooperation portfolio Participants understood the ILO’s approach to responsible labour practices including ILS principles as they relate to company operations, sustainability policies and practices: • Analyse business practices according to ILO standards • Useful ILO tools and resources for the identification and assessment of actual or potential adverse labour rights impacts • How to identify opportunities for synergy, collaboration, and coherence between the OECD, the ILO, and the European Commission