The purpose of the profiles is to provide a national-level framework for dialogue between Major Groups and their governments on priorities for action and implementation at the local level.

Trade unions circulated the first version of the profiles to the governments at CSD 2004. At the request of the EU Presidency they consulted with other Agenda 21 Major Groups since then and have produced this more complete version of the Profiles.

These profiles have become a guidepost for national and regional-level actions on sustainable development issues. They would be used by trade unions to plan national workplace action programmes but other Major Groups would also use them as a basis of national decision-making and international analysis.

These profiles link economic, social and environment data within a framework of sustainable development.

WSSD THEMES, along with consumption indicators,

Country is ranked according to an ecological footprint.

A POVERTY AND LIVELIHOOD INDEX, along with gender, education and other indicators

Country is ranked according to: i) Human Development, ii) Labour Market Security and iii) Gender Development issues.

COMMUNITY AND WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT ISSUES, including occupational and public health indicators,

Workplace fatality is highlighted as a key indicator for sustainable development.

PRINCIPLES AND RIGHTS AT WORK, including child labour and equity indicators

Country is ranked according to a Representation and Voice Security index.

GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT AND EMPLOYER ACCOUNTABILITY issues, including MNEs with operations in each country.