The emergence of voluntary corporate codes of conduct since the early 1990s is both a manifestation of, and a response to, the process of globalization. They have been part of a more general shift away from state regulation of transnational corporations towards an emphasis on corporate self-regulation in the areas of labor and environmental standards and human rights.

This book provides a critical perspective on the growth and significance of corporate codes with a particular focus on working conditions and labor rights. It brings together work by academics, practitioners and activists.