§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their policy on United Nations Norms on Business Responsibility, in particular the International Labour Organisation Core Labour Standards. [HL1401]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)The Government are strong supporters of responsible business behaviour and are actively involved in initiatives to promote this.
The draft United Nations Norms on Business Responsibility raise complex issues because they purport to make business directly responsible for human rights. It is however, states which have obligations under applicable international human rights law to ensure human rights to everyone within their territory and jurisdiction. We are discussing with other members of the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) how to handle this issue when the draft norms are submitted to the forthcoming annual session of the UNCHR.
The UK fully supports and promotes the 1998 International Labour Organisation Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, which provides a framework of international rights for workers through the internationally agreed core labour standards.