The role of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

Recommendations to enterprises and their protection against disproportionate requirements.

For the enterprises operating in the Czech Republic, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and its National Contact Point (NCP) for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises has organized a seminar on the „Social Responsibility of Enterprises and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises – Their Utilization and Benefits“ on Tuesday 10th November.

As guests of the seminar there have been the representatives of the Norwegian Embassy in Prague and Norwegian NCP that have presented the results of their experience with the implementation of the OECD Guidelines in practice. The seminar was aimed to present the latest OECD Guidelines after the last review and their relevance and benefits for enterprises and society as well as to show how the NCP works. The seminar was attended by representatives of 40 enterprises.

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises have been formulated in 1976 as an integral part of the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises. It is the oldest and the most important tool based on the voluntary principle in the field of socially responsible entrepreneurship.

Its uniqueness, in comparison to other internationally recognized tools, consists in the fact that 46 governments (of which 10 are countries associated to the OECD) adhered to it and that there are NCPs functioning at the national levels whose task is to spread awareness of the Guidelines and in case of violation of their provisions to find a solution and present a recommendation. At the seminar a representative of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic has evaluated the Guidelines from the perspective of enterprises.

The Confederation has been a member of the BIAC to the OECD for 20 years. The Confederation was always actively involved in the implementation of the Guidelines and within the two reviews of the Guidelines taking place in 2000 and 2011, it advocated for the voluntary nature of the Guidelines, recognition of the contribution of multinational enterprises to the development of local communities as well as to individual development of their employees, for creation of a level playing field for enterprises and thier protection against disproportionate requirements beyond the framework of the Guidelines.

The BIAC has worked out a practical guide for enterprises in order for them to understand the aims of the OECD Guidelines in particular areas, what are the expectations placed on enterprises regarding co-operation with governments and protection of enterprises.

The BIAC Guide: „Responsible Business Conduct: The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises“

National Contact Point in the Czech Republic