ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to set the context of codes of conduct against the conditions of the world business environment. Corporate codes most often address a range of labour and environmental issues and are meant to apply broadly to all company operations. The explicit labour and environmental practices needed to establish the standards of a code may be drawn from a number of sources, including national legislation, international labour standards and industry benchmarks. The Global Compact, a broader effort initiated by the UN, is centred on ten principles addressing human rights, labour conditions, the environment and anti-corruption. The universal document upon which the ten principles of the Global Compact are based include the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Office's Declaration on Fundamental Principles of Rights at Work, and the Rio Principles on Environment and Development. Code standards can broadly address issues as diverse as meals, housing, transportation, health, environment and safety.
