OECD Watch – Five Years On

A review of the OECD Guidelines and National Contact Points

In 2000, the Guidelines were revised. After lengthy negotiations, a new implementation mechanism was agreed giving nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) for the first time the right to submit complaints concerning the activities of companies to OECD member and adhering countries’ National Contact Points (NCPs). NCPs are government offices established to promote multinational companies’ adherence to the Guidelines. Over the past five years, NGOs have submitted over 45 complaints to NCPs, and the number is steadily rising. According to the OECD, by June 2005, over 100 complaints had been filed by NGOs and trade unions since the Guidelines were revised. read more less