OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are recommendations addressed by governments to multinational enterprises operating in or from adhering countries to these OECD Guidelines, presenting voluntary principles and standards for Responsible Business Conduct in accordance with applicable laws and internationally recognised standards.
These Guidelines are part of the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises and are the only multilaterally agreed and comprehensive code of Responsible Business Conduct that governments have committed to promote.
The Guidelines currently consist of 11 chapters covering the following topics: Concepts and Principles, General Policies, Disclosure, Human Rights, Employment and Industrial Relations, Environment, Combating Bribery, Bribe Solicitation and Extortion, Consumer Interests, Science and Technology, Competition, Taxation.
National Contact Points
In the framework of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, National Contact Points (NCPs) have been established in each of the 50 adhering countries. Their purpose is to promote the dissemination and implementation of the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct by assisting enterprises and other stakeholders to take measures that are consistent with those Guidelines.
More specifically, the NCP promotes the dissemination of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises by:
- Preparing an annual activity report;
- Participating in the annual meeting of NCPs;
- Implementing national dissemination events;
- Promoting contacts with stakeholders.
NCPs also provide a (non-judicial) mediation and conciliation platform for resolving specific instances against companies over alleged breaches of the Guidelines. Thus, any individual or organisation can file a formal complaint with the local NCP if they believe that the actions or activities of a multinational enterprise do not comply with one or more OECD recommendations.
For that purpose, the PT NCP (composed by DGAE and AICEP) provides, in Portuguese and in English, an Initial Application Form, as well as the Procedures Guide for the Handling of Specific Instances. After due assessment of the complaint and if non-compliance with the Guidelines is indeed verified in the company's activity, the NCP starts the treatment of the Specific Instance through a mediation process, in order to find concrete solutions to reducing or eliminating the impacts resulting from the non-compliance with the Guidelines by the multinational enterprise involved.
Submitting a formal complaint to the NCP
Before making a formal complaint to the PT NCP regarding an alleged non-compliance with the Guidelines, we recommend consulting the PT NCP Procedure Guide for Handling Specific Instances within the scope of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
After reading the NCP Procedures Guide, you should complete the Initial Application for Contact with the NCP, sending it to the email pcn.portugal@dgae.gov.pt.
Relevant documents (available at DGAE's website):
Information in English about the Portuguese National Contact Point for OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
Procedural Guidance for the Treatment of Specific Instances under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
Initial request for contact with the NCP PT
Mail handling of correspondence addressed to the NCP is carried out by the Directorate-General for Economic Activities.
Directorate-General for Economic Activities
Telephone: (00351) 217 919 100
E-mail: pcn.portugal@dgae.gov.pt
Address: Avenida Visconde Valmor, 72. 1069-041 Lisbon, Portugal (Direção de Serviços de Sustentabilidade Empresarial)
Website: www.dgae.gov.pt
For more information on the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the National Contact Point and the Annual NCP Reports on the application of the OECD Guidelines, please consult DGAE’s website: National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct.