Principles and guidelines
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
The OECD’s Guidelines are recommendations covering all areas of business ethics, including steps to obey the law, observe international standards, and respond to societal expectations (OECD 2011).
ILO core labour conventions
The ILO’s Governing Body has identified eight ‘fundamental conventions’ that cover subjects that are considered fundamental principles and rights at work. The eight conventions are:
- Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
- Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)
- Force Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
- Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
- Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
- Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)
- Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)
- Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
The UN’s Guiding Principles outline the role of state and the role of businesses in protecting human rights in business situations1. The Principles are comprised of three parts: the state duty to protect human rights; corporate responsibility to respect human rights; and access to remedy through judicial, administrative, legislative or other appropriate means (UN-OHCHR 2011). Some human rights advocates have expressed concern that the guiding principles are not comprehensive enough and that they set minimal expectations for businesses (Blitt 2013). They do not impose obligations on TNCs, nor create a binding international law (Blitt 2013).
UK instruments
National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights
The UK’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights was launched in 2013 in response to the UN’s Guiding Principles. The plan provides guidance for companies to integrate human rights into their operations, and sets out the UK Government’s responsibilities to support businesses in meeting their human rights obligations (UK Government 2013).
- Blitt, R. C. (2013). Beyond Ruggie’s guiding principles on business and human rights: Charting an embracive approach to corporate human rights compliance. Texas International Law Journal, 48(1). See document online
- OECD. (2011). OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises – 2011 Edition. Paris: OECD. See document online
- UK Government. (2013). Good Business: Implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. London: UK Government. See document online
- UN-OHCHR. (2011). Guiding principles on business and human rights: Implementing the United Nations ‘Protect, Report and Remedy’ framework. New York and Geneva: United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights. See document online