Korea’s workers, employers end government unite to advance responsible business practices and human rights due diligence

Seoul, Republic of Korea (ILO News) – The workshop on ‘Forging Ahead: The Labour Dimension of Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) and Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) in Korea’, held on 10 December 2024 in Seoul, contributed to Korea’s ongoing efforts to promote responsible business practices in line with international labour standards and the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration). 

Jointly organized by the ILO and the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET) under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ILO and the Korea National Research Council for Economics, Humanities, and Social Sciences (NRC), the event served as a platform for tripartite constituents to foster dialogue and collaboration on enhancing HRDD in business operations and supply chains of Korean enterprises, especially with its large presence of multinational enterprises (MNEs). 

The workshop aimed to translate preliminary research findings into actionable insights, focusing on how to bridge the gaps between international regulatory developments, international standards, and local implementation. Keynote speakers, including Professor Pichamon Yeophantong, a member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights and a faculty member at Deakin University, as well as Professor Joonkoo Lee from Hanyang University and Advisor for the 2017 revision of the ILO MNE Declaration, provided invaluable perspectives on the evolving landscape of RBC and HRDD, reinforcing the urgency of tackling challenges in the context of global supply chains. Their contributions underscored the importance of integrating human rights and labour considerations into business operations, not only to align with international frameworks but also to drive sustainable impact.

The event highlighted the need for businesses to do more than just meet minimum compliance standards, emphasizing the value of proactive, integrated approaches that address labour rights risks at every stage of business operations. Ms Emily Sims, Senior Specialist at the ILO, presented the ILO MNE Declaration as a key international instrument on responsible business conduct for enterprises, governments, and social partners, along with practical tools and resources to guide enterprises through the complexities of HRDD. Mr Jaehan Cho of KIET unveiled compelling findings that highlighted both the challenges and the untapped potential for Korean enterprises to lead in responsible business practices. A representative from SK C&C, one of Korea's leading MNEs, shared real-world insights and concrete examples of implementing HRDD in business operations, providing a practical perspective to complement the research findings.

In the roundtable discussion, representatives from the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MoEL), Korea Employers’ Federation (KEF), Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), Korea Federation of SMEs (KBIZ), Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) engaged in a constructive dialogue on challenges and opportunities in implementing HRDD across Korean enterprises. These conversations led to concrete recommendations for enhancing awareness, strengthening social dialogue, and ensuring that HRDD practices are embedded into national policy frameworks.

The feedback gathered during the workshop will shape a research report to be published in February 2025. This report will offer targeted recommendations on actions enterprises can take, toward more effective HRDD, and ways in which governments can support them most effectively. By enhancing policy coherence and fostering better coordination among key stakeholders, Korea can lead the way in setting new benchmarks for responsible business conduct and creating a more sustainable future for both its domestic and global supply chains.