The International Training Centre of the ILO (ITCILO), with support from the French Government and in collaboration with the ILO, held the inaugural Summer School on Social Dialogue from 16 to 19 September 2025 in Turin, Italy. The event brought together over 60 participants from governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, enterprises, and academia to explore how social dialogue—anchored in freedom of association and collective bargaining—can strengthen the human rights due diligence process in business. Discussions focused on how worker engagement and consultations can help identify, mitigate, and prevent adverse impacts on internationally recognized human rights, including within supply chains. Nine academic studies guided participants with the latest research and practical insights on regional and thematic issues.
Several sessions were conducted jointly with representatives of OECD National Contact Points for Responsible Business Conduct, who participated in a parallel course on responsible business practices organized with support from the EU-funded Trade for Decent Work project. These sessions highlighted the complementarities between social dialogue mechanisms, such as global framework agreements, European and global works councils, OECD NCPs, and multi-stakeholder initiatives, emphasizing the role of social partners in due diligence processes.
The Summer School also showcased key ILO instruments and tools on business and human rights, including the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration), its operational tools such as the Helpdesk for Business and the Company-Union Dialogue, and the ILO Repository of Knowledge on Cross-Border Social Dialogue, a comprehensive database of initiatives promoting dialogue beyond national borders.
Participants emphasized the value of exchanging perspectives and good practices. Ivann Liberatore, Deputy Representative of the French Government to the ILO, appreciated the diversity of discussions and engagement with participants worldwide. Christine Blanc-Michelland from EDF Group highlighted the opportunity to interact with employers, workers, and academics on social dialogue and due diligence, while Anne-Catherine Cudennec of the French Confederation of Supervisory Staff praised the practical insights gained from the course.
The Summer School on Social Dialogue is an initiative of ITCILO supported by the French Ministry of Labour and implemented in collaboration with the ILO Office for France, the Social Dialogue, Labour Relations and Governance of Work Branch (LABGOV), and the Multinational Enterprises and Responsible Business Conduct Unit (MULTI/RBC). It represents a platform for strengthening industrial relations, human rights due diligence, and cross-border social dialogue practices globally.
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