Working Party on the Social Dimensions of the Liberalization of International Trade: further examination of questions concerning private initiatives, including codes of conduct

At its meeting during the 273rd Session (November 1998) of the Governing Body, the Working Party on the Social Dimensions of the Liberalization of International Trade requested the International Labour Office to prepare a short and focused document for its present session.

The present document reviews relevant developments since the Governing Body's last session, reports on existing Office research, and describes some areas for new research. The document further presents illustrations of how private-sector initiatives, such as codes of conduct, might be integrated into ILO work in the light of the fundamental purposes of the Organization as reflected in the Constitution.

Recommendations:

• An assessment of the global impact of the phenomena of the achievement of the ILO's purposes and objectives.
• Adopting a set of recommended benchmarks concerning private sector initiatives such as codes of conduct.
• A framework for verification of the performance of private actors.