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Objectives and content

This ILO repository of knowledge aims to collect and disseminate information on cross-border social dialogue processes and initiatives developed between or among governments, workers and employers or their representatives, beyond national borders. Such cross-border social dialogue -including among actors in supply chains- may originate in different contexts (such as multilateral instruments, regional economic communities, trade agreements, interregional groupings, enterprises), take place within various processes (such as bipartite/tripartite mechanisms for negotiation, consultation, information exchange and conflict resolution) and may generate different outcomes (such as joint declarations, codes of practice, agreements, conclusions, plaftorm of exchange).

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Multilateral spaces for a fair globalization

Cross-border social dialogue contributes to the effective implementation of many international instruments promoting fair globalization through responsible business conduct, such as the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration), the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational…

Regional economic communities, trade agreements, interregional groupings

Social dialogue in regional, sub-regional and interregional spaces increasingly constitute major forms of cross-border social dialogue. Cross-border social dialogue also occurs in the context of interstate arrangements within groupings of countries in one region or across regions, such as the G20 and the G7. Consultative mechanisms in labour-related provisions of some bilateral and multilateral trade and investment…

Transnational Company Agreements

Multinational enterprises (MNEs) and workers' organizations also engage in cross-border social dialogue. This can be done through the negotiation and implementation of Transnational Company Agreements (TCAs) between MNEs and Global Union Federations; the establishment of staff representation and consultation bodies operating at cross-border level; and any other joint action for promoting decent work and sound labour-…

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) initiatives

A large number of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) policies and initiatives are in place in many companies to fulfil their responsibility to respect human rights. CSR/RBC initiatives have evolved in conjunction with international instruments, particularly the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Governments are increasingly playing a role in…