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Sustainable enterprises

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Sustainable enterprises are key to ensuring job and wealth creation, a just transition to environmental sustainability and inclusive economies and societies. Around the world, companies and consumers are increasingly looking for products and services that have a positive impact on the community, the environment and society.

The ILO works to support and promote enterprises development because Decent Work happens, or doesn’t happen, at the workplace, in enterprises. Without productive and sustainable enterprises there is no Decent Work. Without Decent Work through enterprises there is no social justice, peace or prosperity.

The ILO collaborates with its tripartite constituency of governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations to advance enterprise development in a manner that aligns enterprise growth with sustainable development objectives and the creation of productive employment and decent work.

News and articles

ILO and Al-Quds University pledge to empower Palestinian youth through innovative cooperative models
ILO OPT Officer in Charge, Ms. Rasha El Shurafa, and Al-Quds University President, Dr. Imad Abu Kishek, signing the strategic agreement.

ILO and Al-Quds University pledge to empower Palestinian youth through innovative cooperative models

Hilal: A journey from vulnerability to empowerment
a young repairing appliances

Apprenticeship in Yemen

Hilal: A journey from vulnerability to empowerment

Most recent publications

Decent Work and the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) in Japan: Twelve dialogues

Decent Work and the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) in Japan: Twelve dialogues

A Market Systems Analysis on SMEs’ business incentives to contribute to social insurance schemes in Jordan

A Market Systems Analysis on SMEs’ business incentives to contribute to social insurance schemes in Jordan

Strategic priorities

MSME policies for enabling environment and decent work
A human hand holding a green shoot, representing sustainability and enabling environment.

MSME policies for enabling environment and decent work

Sustainable investment
Collection of financial charts and documents.

Sustainable investment

Greening enterprises
Farmer at work with his coworker (one of them on wheelchair) in a greenhouse

Greening enterprises

Responsible business conduct
Workers on a factory floor

Responsible business conduct

Key areas of work

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
A women standing by a sewing machine in her embroidery workshop.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

Multinational enterprises
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Multinational enterprises

Cooperatives, Social and Solidarity Economy
Orchid farmer in Thailand.

Cooperatives, Social and Solidarity Economy

Social finance
Woman exchanging money at counter.

Social finance

Projects

ILO/Japan Fund for Building Social Safety Nets in Asia and the Pacific (SSN Fund)

Social safety nets

ILO/Japan Fund for Building Social Safety Nets in Asia and the Pacific (SSN Fund)

Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) in Asia

UNEP, ILO, UNDP, UNIDO, UNITAR

Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) in Asia

Training resources

View our training courses on enterprises and sustainable development offered by the International Training Centre of the ILO
Multiracial group of students and teacher having fun during teamwork

View our training courses on enterprises and sustainable development offered by the International Training Centre of the ILO

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Related topics

Just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies
Fishers folding a green fishing net next on a handmade boat

Green jobs

Just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies

Supply chains
Shipping containers wait for transport at port

Supply chains

Informal economy
Informal worker in Johannesburg

Topic portal

Informal economy