Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy

The ILO's main instrument in this area is the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, adopted by the Governing Body in 1977. This voluntary code is the result of a consensus between governments, employers and workers.

Full text of the Declaration with annotations

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The Declaration is the only universal text relating to the labour and social aspect of the activities of multinational enterprises. Its principles in the fields of employment, training, conditions of work and life and industrial relations address themselves to governments, employers, including multinational enterprises, and workers.

The ILO's worldwide constituents, be they home bases or hosts for multinational enterprises, report to the Governing Body of the ILO every three years on the effect given to the Declaration.

More information on this reporting mechanism

Governments and, in certain circumstances, employers' or workers' organizations may ask the ILO for an interpretation of the provisions of the Declaration in the event of disputes over their application.

The operations of multinational enterprises are expanding, often with the encouragement of governments of both industrialized and developing countries interested in attracting foreign investment. The globalization of the economy and the shift to the free market offer enlarged possibilities of investment which multinational enterprises are quick to seize. The ILO has accordingly intensified its efforts to promote the application of the Declaration, at the same time encouraging the implementation of the labour standards which directly relate to it.