About the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

Contents

• What Are the Guidelines?
• What Is the NCP?
• What Does the NCP Do?
  • Promoting the Guidelines
  • Assisting in the Resolution of Issues
  • Reporting
• The Liaison Group
• Contacting the NCP
• Raising an Issue under the Guidelines
• Other Countries and Their NCPs
• Links

What Are the Guidelines?

The OECD Guidelines [external link] are a set of non-binding recommendations to help multinational enterprises operate in harmony with the policies and societal expectations of the countries in which they conduct business. They provide voluntary principles and standards for responsible business conduct. They cover issues such as information disclosure, employment, industrial relations, the environment, combating bribery, consumer interests, science and technology, competition and taxation.

The Guidelines are recommendations jointly addressed by governments to multinational enterprises. They provide principles and standards of good practice consistent with applicable laws. Observance of the Guidelines by enterprises is voluntary and not legally enforceable.

Obeying national laws is the first obligation for enterprises. The Guidelines are not a substitute for, nor do they override, national law. They represent standards of behaviour supplemental to national laws and, as such, do not create conflicting requirements. Ultimately, the success and effectiveness of the Guidelines depends on the responsibility and good faith of all parties involved with their promotion and implementation.

The Guidelines were developed by the 30 member governments (including New Zealand). They are part of the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises. While the Guidelines themselves are a non-binding recommendation to businesses, governments have a responsibility - through the use of National Contact Points (NCPs) - to promote the Guidelines, encourage their use, handle enquiries and help to respond to any issues that may arise.

What Is the NCP?

The Ministry of Economic Development has been appointed as New Zealand's national contact point (NCP). The purpose of the NCP is quite simply to further the effectiveness of the Guidelines. The NCP has three broad roles - promoting the Guidelines, assisting in the resolution of any issues arising from the Guidelines, and reporting on its activities to the OECD. The NCP will operate in accordance with the core criteria of visibility, accessibility, transparency and accountability.

What Does the NCP Do?

Promoting the Guidelines

Information about the Guidelines can be downloaded from this site. The NCP can also supply information about the Guidelines in hard copy on request and free of charge. To request an information booklet or other information, please contact the NCP at the address below.

The NCP will also respond to any enquiries about the Guidelines. The NCP will work with other government departments, the business community, employee organisations, other non-government organisations, other stakeholders and the public to raise awareness of the Guidelines.

Assisting in the Resolution of Issues

The NCP will contribute within the context of existing national law to the resolution of issues that arise relating to implementation of the Guidelines on specific instances. The NCP will offer as appropriate a forum for discussion and assist the parties concerned to deal with the issues raised in an efficient and timely manner and in accordance with applicable law.

Reporting

The NCP will issue annual reports, which will be posted on this website.

Feedback from interested parties on how the NCP should operate would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to submit comments or suggestions please contact oecd-ncp@med.govt.nz or phone 04-462 4287.

The Liaison Group

The NCP is assisted by an advisory Liaison Group including representatives from the Department of Labour, Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Treasury, MED, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, Business New Zealand and the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development. The group will assist the NCP in achieving its objectives, develop and identify areas that may require further attention and put the views of members to the NCP. The Liaison Group meets at least once a year.

Contacting the NCP

Please contact:

Regulatory and Competition Policy Branch
Ministry of Economic Development
PO Box 1473
Wellington
Ph: 04-462 4287
Fax: 04-499 8508
Email: oecd-ncp@med.govt.nz

Raising an Issue under the Guidelines

If you wish to raise an issue under the Guidelines concerning the behaviour of a multinational enterprise, this should normally be raised with the NCP of the country in which the issue arose. If the country does not adhere to the Guidelines and so does not have a NCP, the issue should be raised with the NCP in the country where the enterprise is based. The New Zealand NCP can give you further advice about this.

If you wish to raise an issue with the New Zealand NCP, it would be helpful if you can provide the following information:

• The name (and if possible contact details) of the multinational enterprise.
• Your name and contact details.
• What is the action about which you have an issue?
• Where and when did it occur?
• What part(s) of the Guidelines do you think apply?
• How does the action affect you?
• Can all the information you supply be disclosed to the multinational enterprise? Please state what information (if any) you do not want revealed and why

Please provide any documents or other information that are relevant.

Other Countries and Their NCPs

Countries adhering to the OECD Guidelines are:

→ List of National Contact Points [external link]

Links

For more information, please see Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises [external link] on the OECD website.