GLOSSARY
Freedom of association
Freedom of association is one of the ILO's fundamental labor rights: the right of workers to form or join a union without employer interference or retaliation, and to participate in collective bargaining. The core requirement is a prohibition on penalizing workers for union activity.
Why it matters for Tier-2/3
Codes of conduct and due-diligence frameworks commonly include freedom of association as a baseline labor-practices question. Regardless of whether a union exists on-site, a Tier-2/3 supplier's starting point is documenting a policy that workers won't be penalized for collective activity.
Related
Informational only — this does not replace an official ESG evaluation. Independent content; not affiliated with or endorsed by any framework organization.