Globalisation has changed the balance between government, economy and civil society. Keen competition on global markets, weak government structures in developing countries and fragmentary global control mechanisms make it difficult to develop socially sound and ecologically sustainable market economies. In this situation voluntary undertakings by the private sector in the form of codes of conduct or quality certificates are a way of making progress towards a market economy. Various social and ecological standards contribute at several levels to implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Compliance with the ILO core labour standards is a major element in poverty reduction (MDG 1). Viable economic development is inconceivable without eradicating forced and exploitative child labour. Only after eliminating child labour can children begin to acquire human capital through education (MDG 2). Social standards also contain provisions on workplace health and safety that often protect women, in particular from health hazards (MDG 5). For the latter, non-discrimination at work is a difficult right to assert; many women lack any written contracts of employment and are not entitled to maternity protection (MDG 3). Of all workers in the textile industry, between 80% and 90% are women. Standards on the environment promote the sustainable use of natural resources in the production process (MDG 7). Finally, developing and implementing social and ecological standards in line with MDG 8 involves partnerships amongst donor organisations, civil society and the private sector.

Practical experience

• Ecuador
  Social and ecological standards and MDG - Sustainable agricultural production and marketing in Ecuador
  en-social-ecological-standards-mdg-project-ecuador01.pdf, 0.02 MB (English)