UK National Contact Point for OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises provide voluntary principles and standards that the UK government encourages UK businesses to comply with wherever they are trading and operating.
What are the Guidelines?
The Guidelines are recommendations on responsible business conduct addressed by Governments to multinational enterprises operating in or from their territories. Although many businesses have developed their own codes of conduct in recent years, the OECD Guidelines are the only multilaterally endorsed and comprehensive code that Governments are committed to promoting.
Although endorsed by Governments, the Guidelines are voluntary and not intended to override local laws and regulations. They are perhaps best described as supplementary principles and standards of corporate behaviour of a non-legal character.
The Guidelines are divided into ten chapters that contain advice for business in areas such as employment and industrial relations, combating bribery, consumer interests and taxation. Also included in the Guidelines are implementation procedures. You can download the full text of the Guidelines:
The OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises (PDF, 1566KB)
The UK National Contact Point (UK NCP) has produced a short booklet on the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (which is also available in French and Spanish translations). You can download the electronic versions:
The UK national contact point for the OECD guidelines for multinational enterprises (PDF, 249KB - English version)
Le point de contact national Britannique pour les principes directeurs de l’OCDE á l’intention des entreprises multinationales (PDF, 201KB) (PDF, 205 Kb) - French version
El punto nacional de contacto del Reino Unido para las líneas directrices de la OCDE para empresas multinacionales (PDF, 199KB) (PDF, 203 Kb) - Spanish version
Or you can request hard copies from uk.ncp@bis.gsi.gov.uk
National Contact Points (NCP)
The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (the Guidelines) were first agreed in 1976. They were most recently revised in June 2000 to establish a specific instance procedure which allows for complaints to be brought where companies are not following the Guidelines. The revision in 2000 also committed adhering countries to establishing a National Contact Point to promote the Guidelines and manage the complaints relating to companies registered in or operating from their countries.
NCPs do this by facilitating dialogue and mediating between the two parties. If they consider that the company has breached the Guidelines the NCP will issue a statement saying how, and making recommendations to the company on how it could bring its practices into line with the Guidelines in the future.
OECD Risk Awareness Tool
The National Contact Point is also responsible for promoting the OECD Risk Awareness Tool for Multinational Enterprises in Weak Governance Zones, which aims to help companies that invest in countries where governments are unwilling or unable to assume their responsibilities. It addresses risks and ethical dilemmas that companies are likely to face in such weak governance zones.
The Risk Awareness Tool raises a number of questions useful for companies facing such difficult operating environments. We strongly encourage companies considering working in weak governance zones to use the Risk Awareness Tool and other advice in their decision making:
OECD risk awareness tool for multinational enterprises in weak governance zones (PDF, 636KB)
Countries adhering to the OECD Guidelines
A. OECD members
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.
B. Non-OECD members
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Estonia, Egypt, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, Peru, Romania & Slovenia.
UK NCP contacts
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS)
Bay 4133
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H OET
