The International Labour Organization is to mark the 30th anniversary of the ILO’s Declaration on Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy in November of this year. The groundbreaking “MNE Declaration” was widely-regarded as being ahead of its time when it was adopted in 1977 in response to the growing role and influence of multinational enterprises in the 1960s and 1970s.It was last updated in 2006.

The Declaration offers a set of core principles and guidelines for enterprises in the areas of employment, training, working conditions, and industrial relations. In the increasingly globalised economy, the Declaration has become even more relevant as public awareness grew with regard to social conditions of workers and multi-nationals became increasingly aware of the benefits of integrating internationally-accepted labour standards and principles into all levels of their operations.

The ILO will commemorate the anniversary with a number of events, including a special Forum to be held on 15-16 November, 2007. The Forum will draw prominent executives and labour representatives from around the world, and provide an extraordinary platform for sharing and exploring how effective practices in promoting labour principles can stimulate growth and enhance competitiveness.

ILO Director General Juan Somavia, Anglogold Ashanti Chief Executive Officer Robert M. Godsell and a high-level workers’ representative will jointly open the Forum.

For more information, please contact Dominique Michel (michel@ilo.org) and Yukiko Arai (arai@ilo.org) of the ILO Multinational Enterprises Programme.