International labour standards, codes of conduct and multinational enterprises

Multinational enterprises shape global and national politics by their enormous economic power. In the introduction, I briefly discuss the definition of a multinational, as well as the role of labour standards relating to child labour.In Part I, I will focus upon the political and economic relationship between States and MNEs. I will also discuss the tensions this relationship creates. In the second part, I focus on the issue of child labour and different kinds of approaches countries take.Before dealing with international efforts to create a universal code, I examine two internal codes.Part III addresses two main issues. First, the question how human rights and MNEs relate to each other is dealt with. Then the issue of international legal responsibility will be elaborated.Finally, the thesis concludes that public opinion and shame may be the key to successfully address the issue of child labour