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Contributions from
the Column
Monitor
Africa policy: Europe on the wrong track
World Investment Report 2005
Aid pledges for Africa to be monitored
Information summit to discuss control of internet
UN convention against corruption
Disappointing OECD guidelines
Bertelsmann Foundation rates progress
A new definition for the wealth of nations
Trade: disruptive chicken wings
IMF and World Bank endorse debt relief
Development and security: more cooperation needed
11/2005
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Disappointing OECD guidelines for multinational corporations
According to non-governmental organisations, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises have not met the expectations placed on them. This is the conclusion of a study released in late September by the NGO network, OECD Watch. Thirty OECD members and nine other countries adopted the guidelines five years ago. They contain social and environmental standards, which, however, are not binding. According to OECD Watch, this is the inherent weakness of the guidelines. Many multinational companies do not adhere to them and there are no sanctions, which might provide compliance incentives.
The complaint mechanism has also had little effect. The national contact points (NCPs) that were set up to deal with breaches of the guidelines are too passive and contribute little to resolving conflicts. OECD Watch is calling for the work of the contact points to be monitored more closely, for example through peer reviews at OECD level. Furthermore, the contact points should not base their work solely on the information provided by the conflict parties, but should also conduct their own independent investigations. In addition, OECD Watch bemoans that neither the NCPs nor governments are sufficiently committed to making companies familiar with the guidelines and urging them to comply. (ell)
On the internet:
http://www.oecdwatch.org/
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