Responsible Business Conduct and Freedom of Association
Cover image © Adobe Stock/Kristina
Online
Responsible Business Conduct and Freedom of Association
27 April–15 May 2026
The course is available in English
Introduction to the course
This course provides participants with the essential elements related to Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and responsible business conduct, structured in five modules: - Fundamental ILO conventions and resources related to FPRW: 1998 ILO Declaration and Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy; - Identification of violations of the FPRW and their root causes; - Sectoral and regional perspectives; - Business initiatives, multi-stakeholder initiatives - Complaint mechanisms and access to redress.
Who attends this course?
- Companies (private or state-owned); - Public procurement agencies and services; - Relevant ministries with a specific mandate and interest in business and human rights (labour, trade, public procurement, justice and human rights); - Development finance institutions; - National human rights institutions; - Academia; - National focal points for the promotion of the MNE Declaration and OECD National Contact Points for the ERC; - UN agencies; - Employers' organisations and trade unions.
Overview
This online course provides a practical introduction to how enterprises and other stakeholders can respect freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining as part of responsible business conduct and human rights due diligence. Participants explore key ILO standards and guidance, learn how to identify and address common risk scenarios in business operations and supply chains, and work with practical tools to strengthen prevention, engagement and remedy.
What you will learn
- The critical international labour standards on freedom of association and collective bargaining.
- How to translate standards into practice through policies, supplier engagement, industrial relations and human rights due diligence processes in different legal contexts.
- How to identify risks and early warning signs of interference, anti-union discrimination and barriers to collective bargaining.
- How to engage meaningfully with workers and their representatives and support good-faith collective bargaining.
- How to strengthen grievance mechanisms, remediation and dispute resolution options.
Who should attend
- Company staff working on sustainability/ESG, compliance, human resources, industrial relations, procurement/sourcing and legal affairs.
- Employer and business membership organizations; trade unions and workers’ organizations.
- Public institutions, procurement agencies, development finance institutions and other stakeholders supporting responsible business conduct.
How the course works
Self-guided learning on the ITCILO eCampus (24/7 access during the course period).
Live sessions and moderated peer exchange.
Short quizzes and practical activities to support application to your context.
Final assignment: a short, practice-oriented deliverable (e.g., HRDD component on freedom of association and collective bargaining).
Certificate
Participants who successfully complete the course requirements receive an ITCILO Certificate of Participation.
Contact
Email: fundamentals@itcilo.org | mne-rbc@itcilo.org
