OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct

Abstract

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (the Guidelines) are recommendations jointly addressed by governments to multinational enterprises to enhance the business contribution to sustainable development and address adverse impacts associated with business activities on people, planet, and society.The Guidelines are supported by a unique implementation mechanism, the National Contact Points for Responsible Business Conduct (NCPs), established by governments to further the effectiveness of the Guidelines.Since their introduction in 1976, the Guidelines have been continuously updated to remain fit for purpose in light of societal challenges and the evolving context for international business.The 2023 update reflects a decade of experience since their last review in 2011 and responds to urgent social, environmental, and technological priorities facing societies and businesses.Key updates include:• Recommendations for enterprises to align with internationally agreed goals on climate change and biodiversity• Inclusion of due diligence expectations on the development, financing, sale, licensing, trade and use of technology, including gathering and using data• Recommendations on how enterprises are expected to conduct due diligence on impacts and business relationships related to the use of their products and services • Better protection for at-risk persons and groups including those who raise concerns regarding the conduct of businesses • Updated recommendations on disclosure of responsible business conduct information • Expanded due diligence recommendations to all forms of corruption • Recommendations for enterprises to ensure lobbying activities are consistent with the Guidelines • Strengthened procedures to ensure the visibility, effectiveness, and functional equivalence of National Contact Points for Responsible Business Conduct The update was conducted by the 51 Adherents to the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises and the European Union who participate in the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct and the OECD Investment Committee.The update benefitted from close involvement of the institutional stakeholders Business at OECD, the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD, and OECD Watch, representing the views of millions of businesses, workers, and civil society members globally.The process also included two public consultations open to interested stakeholders from across the world.OECD bodies and their respective Secretariats were consulted and contributed to the revisions of thematic chapters of the Guidelines, including the Competition Committee; the Committee on Consumer Policy; the Corporate Governance Committee;

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