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National governments appear to have improved their clear-up rate for
complaints made against companies for allegedly breaching the OECD
Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
Figures published last month show that of 103 complaints made since 2000 to governmental ‘national contact points’ (NCPs), 68 have now been concluded. All but two of the others are still being considered.
This contrasts favourably with the position in late 2005, when the pressure group OECD Watch found that of 45 complaints submitted by non-governmental organizations since 2000, only eight had been concluded (EP7, issue 6).
However, not all parties are always satisfied even when a case is judged to be closed. OECD Watch, which is partly funded by the European Commission, and other NGOs have claimed for some time that slow progress by NCPs has undermined trust in the system for resolving disputes. They add that NCPs often fail to publicize the outcomes.
The figures suggesting that complaints, many of which relate to alleged human rights abuses, are now being dealt with more promptly are contained in an OECD briefing note.
Many of the complaints have been made against extractive companies. The business activities covered range from private provision of maintenance services at the Guantánamo Bay detention centre on the island of Cuba to fish farming in Chile.
The
latest specific instance of alleged non-compliance with the OECD
guidelines has been filed by the human rights pressure group Global
Witness against the British-registered trading company Afrimex. Global
Witness claims that Afrimex’s trade in minerals such as coltan and
cassiterite in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has ‘contributed
directly to brutal conflict and large-scale human rights abuses’
because the business made ‘tax’ payments to an armed rebel group
controlling areas where the minerals were mined. The allegations will
be examined by the UK’s national contact point, which is within the
Department of Trade and Industry. Afrimex rejects the allegations and
claims its suppliers are reputable.
Figures published last month show that of 103 complaints made since 2000 to governmental ‘national contact points’ (NCPs), 68 have now been concluded. All but two of the others are still being considered.
This contrasts favourably with the position in late 2005, when the pressure group OECD Watch found that of 45 complaints submitted by non-governmental organizations since 2000, only eight had been concluded (EP7, issue 6).
However, not all parties are always satisfied even when a case is judged to be closed. OECD Watch, which is partly funded by the European Commission, and other NGOs have claimed for some time that slow progress by NCPs has undermined trust in the system for resolving disputes. They add that NCPs often fail to publicize the outcomes.
The figures suggesting that complaints, many of which relate to alleged human rights abuses, are now being dealt with more promptly are contained in an OECD briefing note.
Many of the complaints have been made against extractive companies. The business activities covered range from private provision of maintenance services at the Guantánamo Bay detention centre on the island of Cuba to fish farming in Chile.
The
latest specific instance of alleged non-compliance with the OECD
guidelines has been filed by the human rights pressure group Global
Witness against the British-registered trading company Afrimex. Global
Witness claims that Afrimex’s trade in minerals such as coltan and
cassiterite in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has ‘contributed
directly to brutal conflict and large-scale human rights abuses’
because the business made ‘tax’ payments to an armed rebel group
controlling areas where the minerals were mined. The allegations will
be examined by the UK’s national contact point, which is within the
Department of Trade and Industry. Afrimex rejects the allegations and
claims its suppliers are reputable. Super Featured
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