Petition demands multinationals be held to account
The “Coalition for Responsible Multinationals” has submitted a petition with 217,509 signatures to the Federal Chancellery. It calls on the government and parliament to enact an effective law for corporate responsibility, based on an EU model.
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Petição quer que multinacionais sejam responsabilizadas
Exactly two years after the vote to hold Swiss companies accountable for their actions abroad narrowly failed – the initiative was accepted by 50.7% of voters but rejected by a majority of cantons – the initiators have submitted a petition to Bern.
As the EU prepares to introduce a law on the responsibility of multinationals, the government must keep the promise it made during the 2020 referendum campaign, said coalition member and former parliamentarian Dick Marty on Thursday.
“If a multinational like Glencore violates human rights or destroys the environment, it’s still not held accountable,” said Chantal Peyer, political advisor to charity HEKS and also a member of the coalition’s committee.
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Responsible business initiative rejected at the ballot box
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A majority of cantons rejected the responsible business initiative, sealing its fate. But it managed to secure the popular vote.
Since the vote in November 2020, new cases of human rights violations and environmental pollution by multinationals based in Switzerland have regularly been made public, the coalition pointed out. At the end of September, Tamedia newspapers revealedExternal link that Swiss bank UBS was financing Brazilian agribusiness multinationals involved in illegal deforestation.
The world’s leading container shipping company MSC has its ships dismantled in catastrophic conditions on Indian beaches, the coalition said. In addition, new documents reveal how Syngenta concealed the dangers of its pesticide Paraquat.
“Multinational companies must be held accountable for the damage they cause. This is the only way to avoid such problems in future,” concluded Rahel Ruch, director of the Coalition for Responsible Multinationals.
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Why big companies fear the Responsible Business Initiative
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Big multinationals have voiced opposition to an initiative to make companies more accountable for their actions abroad. What are they afraid of?
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2023 was a record year for the Rhaetian Railway in several respects. Never before has the narrow-gauge railway in Graubünden, eastern Switzerland, transported so many passengers and cars.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
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How easy is it to hold Swiss companies to account abroad?
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Swiss citizens may soon vote on whether to make companies liable for their actions abroad. Three stories show the challenges of getting justice.
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One of the most controversial issues in the debate on the ‘responsible business’ initiative concerns the scope of the Swiss proposal.
Responsible Business debate could cause ripple effects globally
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Swiss parliament decides this week on an initiative to hold companies accountable for their impacts on human rights and the environment.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.