Preface
The labour principles of the UN Global Compact may be among the most specific of the initiative’s ten principles, but that does not mean that they are the easiest to implement. Many companies face difficulties in knowing what is expected of them and what more can be done to uphold these principles. There is thus much scope for learning, dialogue and collective action, including partnerships, as ways to complement other approaches aimed at bringing about responsible labour practices. This is the contribution that the UN Global Compact seeks to make. Today, the UN Global Compact is the largest corporate citizenship initiative with over 6,000 business participants and other stakeholders involved in more than 130 countries.
Thankfully, some excellent guidance materials have now been developed to help businesses of all sizes and from all sectors and locations. It is our hope that this Guide – an output of the newly established Global Compact Labour Working Group – will help raise further awareness of the existence of these materials and be a very useful Guide for business everywhere.
Georg Kell
Executive Director
UN Global Compact Office
The labour Principles of the United Nations Global Compact – A Guide for Business – First Edition
As the first publication of the newly-established UN Global Compact Labour Working Group, this Guide aims at helping companies understand and apply the four labour principles into practice (UNGC principles 3-6). In a question and answer format, this Guide provides a brief description of each of the four Global Compact labour principles, and also provides practical guidance on what companies can do to respect, promote, and realise them. It also contains an inventory of key ILO resources that will help companies realise the labour principles.
Type Instructional material Date issued December 2008 Unit responsible Multinational Enterprises Subjects child labour, forced labour, equal employment opportunity, corporate responsibility, enterprises, discrimination, workers rights Download English - pdf 1623 KB