ICFTU/ITS Basic Code of Labour Practice

The text of this code was developed by the ICFTU/ITS Working Party on Multinational Companies in a process that involved extensive consultations with various trade union organisations and other interested individuals and organisations. It aims to establish a minimum list of standards that ought to be included in all codes of conduct covering labour practices. These regard the core conventions of the ILO.

The purpose of this basic code is to promote international labour standards and the inclusion of trade union rights in codes of conduct covering labour practices.

The ICFTU/ITS Basic Code is also meant to encourage the use of consistent language in codes of conduct. This basic code aims at assisting trade union organisations in negotiations with companies and in working with NGOs in campaigns involving codes of conduct. It can also be used as a benchmark for evaluating any unilaterally-adopted codes of labour practice.

The provisions of this code can be adopted by any company doing business internationally. The code is not only for companies marketing manufactured products but also for companies marketing services. The scope of application of any code, that is the extent to which the code will apply to the labour practices of a company’s contractors, subcontractors and principal suppliers, will have to be determined in each case. This may affect the definitions provided in this text. The scope of application is meant to be as wide as both practically and reasonably feasible.

Contractors, subcontractors, principal suppliers and licensees (franchise-holders) are requested to undertake to support and co-operate in the implementation and monitoring of this code by providing relevant information concerning their operations; permitting inspection at any time of their workplaces and operations by approved inspectors; maintaining records for each worker on their name, age, hours worked and wages paid, and making these available to approved inspectors on request; informing, verbally and in writing, the workers concerned of the provisions of this Code; and refraining from disciplinary action, dismissal or otherwise discriminating against any worker for providing information concerning observance of this code.

Information

Source

http://www.icftu.org

Remarks

Specificity

The originality of this tool is that it emanates from trade unions, embracing the field of voluntary social responsibility to enhance the importance of the respect of the ILO conventions and workers rights

Nature of the instrument - basic code of conduct

Purpose - adoption