Strengthening the Governance System of the ILO Multinational Enterprise Declaration

This paper critically evaluates the International Labour Organisation’s Multinational Enterprise Declaration (MNED) and governance system. Despite revisions in 2017 and 2022, the MNED still struggles with transparency and lacks procedural clarity, particularly concerning labour dispute processing. It also fails to address labour-related elements of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs), and the sectoral International Framework Agreements between employers and labour unions. The absence of public access to MNED case material further diminishes its effectiveness. This paper reviews official documents and expert critiques using a policy analysis framework to identify weaknesses and propose recommendations. Strengthening the MNED is crucial for advancing Sustainable Development Goal 8, which emphasizes decent work and economic growth, especially in regions with weak institutional frameworks for workers’ rights.