The International Labor Organization (ILO) held the 329th Session of its Governing Body (GB) from March 9-23 in Geneva. The session’s landmark outcome was an endorsement of the revised Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration), which offers guidelines to multinational enterprises, governments, and employers’ and workers’ organizations in such areas as employment, training, conditions of work and life and industrial relations. This guidance is founded substantially on principles contained in international labor conventions and recommendations.

While the original MNE Declaration was adopted forty years ago, the revised version responds to new economic realities across international trade and supply chains, addressing decent work issues, forced labor and guidance on “due diligence” processes, which are consistent with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

USCIB and its members Coca-Cola, Disney, IBM and Littler Mendelson, among others, worked closely with the International Organization of Employers (IOE) to provide comments to the Tripartite Working Group.

Ed Potter, USCIB international labor counsel and member of the GB, was nominated by USCIB to serve as the U.S. employer representative to the ILO and represent U.S. business in the Working Group. Potter noted, “This is the most extensive update of the MNE Declaration since it was first negotiated in 1977. It is a forward looking tripartite agreement that applies in all countries wherever large or small MNE’s operate or have business relationships.”

“We are grateful to Ed for his tireless work on behalf of business,” said USCIB’s President and CEO Peter Robinson. “Multiple employers expressed their appreciation to me for Ed’s continuous leadership on these issues during the GB last week.”

The revised MNE Declaration can be found here.