Codes of conduct and international framework agreements: New forms of governance at company level - Case study: LEONI

LEONI was one of the first German companies in the metalworking sector to issue a ‘Declaration on Social Rights and Industrial Relations’ in 2003. In doing so it followed the two German automotive companies Volkswagen and Daimler-Chrysler which had concluded similar declarations in 2002. The document, which was signed in April 2003 by the LEONI management, the chairwoman of the European Works Council and the general secretary of the International Metalworkers Federation IMF is known as the ‘LEONI Social Charter’ and is seen as a main element of the company’s practice of corporate social responsibility. This case study report is based on interviews with representatives of the LEONI corporate headquarters (Corporate Human Resources) in Nuremberg and the LEONI Groups Works Council/European Works Council carried out in the first half of 2007.