Responsible Business Conduct
18.08.2020
On August 26, 2020, at 11:00, a workshop on Responsible Business Conduct for multinational companies will be held in accordance with the OECD Guidelines and the role of the National Contact Point in this process.
Th.organizers will be:
International business environment has undergone a number of significant structural changes over the past three decades. Since the beginning of the new Millennium, the world economy has been driven by international investment, through which Governments have opened up markets and businesses have taken advantage of new opportunities that have led to unprecedented economic growth. In June 2017, Kazakhstan became an associate member of the Investment Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and became the 48th country to join the OECD Declaration on Multinational Enterprises. As part of joining the Committee, the Government of Kazakhstan has made a number of commitments, including the dissemination of the principles of responsible business conduct in accordance with the OECD Guidelines. The Guidelines are requirements for responsible business conduct directed by governments to businesses whose activities in any area extend beyond the borders of a single state. To be more precise, the Guidelines are a collection of principles and standards in various areas, ranging from human rights, employee rights, and occupational safety, also addressing issues of access to information, taxation, and environmental protection. In order to disseminate and ensure compliance with the Guidelines, the OECD National Contact Points (NCPs) were established. Today, NCPs operate effectively in 49 countries around the world, which account for about 80% of foreign direct investment. The presence of this body in the state guarantees transparency in the consideration of disputes that arise. An effective, transparent and popular mechanism of NCPs activities is an important element of open international investment climate. Between 2000 and 2019, NCPs have handled more than 500 cases relating to company operations in over 100 countries and territories. The majority of cases (57%) relate to human rights, employment and worker issues, and the environment. Between 2011 and 2019, over a third of all cases which were accepted for further examination by NCPs (36%) resulted in some form of agreement between the parties; approximately 33% resulted in an internal policy change by the company in question. Reviewed cases World practice testifies to the effectiveness and efficiency of the pre-trial complaints mechanism (there are no precedents considered by the NCP in Kazakhstan at the moment).
improper observance of the rights of the local population; inappropriate labour and employment practices (for example, unjustified dismissals, attempts to prevent employees from forming a Trade Union, wage and bonus payment systems that discriminate against women); acute lack of protective measures against environmental damage The statement resulted in changes to the Code of Conduct on Cermaq's corporate responsibilities, including clearer obligations of suppliers in the area of human rights observance based on the recommendations contained in the Guidelines; a commitment to enter into mutually beneficial agreements with the local population; and a commitment to further develop measures to minimize the risks of significant environmental damage.
On 20 August 2018, the Dutch NCP issued an opinion concluding that Bresser "does not meet the due diligence criteria of the OECD Guidelines" and that the right to cultural heritage "should be considered as a human right in accordance with the OECD Guidelines". This was the first specific case of recognition of cultural rights as human rights.
The NCP issued a follow-up report in October 2018, noting that four follow-up meetings had been held since February 2018 to discuss mitigation measures for the Xayaburi Project. The cooperation of AndritzHydro with NGOs and experts provided the basis for the development of a new draft code of conduct based on international principles that will apply to all companies that are part of the AndritzGroup. Reference: the OECD Guidelines for multinational enterprises is a document created in 1976 and strengthened by an effective mechanism for dissemination and reporting of violations during subsequent audits.
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