Transcript Dia 1 - OECD Watch

Corporate Accountability: Tools to
Promote Responsible Business
Conduct
Hotel Viengtai, Bangkok
4-6 November 2009
A Tool to Promote Responsible Business
Conduct
What makes them unique?
• Only multilaterally endorsed code that OECD
governments have signaled commitment to promote
• Tripartite support
• BIAC/ TUAC/ Government
• OECD Watch
• National Contact Point Structure
• Promotion of Guidelines to business
• Handling Specific Instances
• Complaint mechanism
• There is someone responsible for investigating violations
• Low cost option for NGO advocacy
More Information:
• www.oecdwatch.org
•Quarterly Case Updates
•OECD Watch Briefing Papers & reports
•OECD Watch newsletters
• OECD Watch Guide to the Guidelines
•OECD Watch Fact Sheets
What do they cover?
1. Concepts & principles, e.g. ownership, size of
enterprise, equity of treatment
2. General policies, e.g. human rights, human capital,
sustainable development
3. Disclosure
4. Employment & industrial relations
5. Environment
6. Combating bribery
7. Consumer interests
8. Science & technology
9. Competition
10.Taxation
Who do they apply to?
• Recommendations for responsible business conduct
approved by government to MNEs operating in, or
from, the territories of adhering countries
• 30 adhering OECD member countries
• 10 non -OECD member adhering countries
(Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Estonia, Egypt, Israel,
Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, Romania)
• Directed at MNE’s via signatory countries
What are the OECD Guidelines for MNEs
• Voluntary principles & standards to promote corporate
responsibility
• Soft law, non-judicial, not legally binding
• Are becoming more normative
• Do not override national laws
• Based on international treaties and conventions, e.g.
ILO Fundamental Principles & Rights at Work
• Governed by the OECD Investment Committee
• Promoted and implemented by National Contact
Points (NCP’s)