In 1999, the UN Secretary-General proposed a Global Compact between the United Nations and private companies on corporate social and environmental responsibility. At a time of globalisation, when companies are having an increasing impact on the environment, the world of work and human rights, the Global Compact aims to encourage corporate compliance with the values of the United Nations. The Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core values.

In particular they are asked to respect ten principles in the fields of:

 human rights - respect for international law, and avoidance of complicity in abuses by their subsidiaries;

 labour standards - freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, elimination of forced labour, child labour and discrimination in employment;

 the environment - a precautionary approach, environmentally friendly technologies

 anti-corruption.

Update : July 2010