Minutes of the Liaison Group Meeting

23 April 2005

Attendance

Daryn Jemmett, Sustainable Business Network;
Koro Dickinson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade;
Paul Tolich, Engineering, Printing, and Manufacturing Union;
Peter Conway, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions;
Yvonne Lucas, Ministry of Economic Development;
Retha du Randt, Ministry of Economic Development;
James Dalton, Ministry of Economic Development;
Bastiaan van der Scheer, Ministry of Economic Development.

Apologies

James Caldwell, Ministry for the Environment;
Lyn Mayes, New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development;
Michael Hobby, Department of Labour;
Michele Lloyd, Treasury;
Peter Whitehouse, Business New Zealand.

Promotion of the Guidelines

The Ministry of Economic Development (MED) and the NCP indicated that they would:

• approach New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and request that a link be added to the NZTE website to the OECD Guidelines;
• promote the Guidelines to the Overseas Investment Commission;
• promote the link between the Guidelines and the course operated by the Institute of Directors and university business schools;
• develop a media strategy around the promotion of the Guidelines in New Zealand which may include:
  • the development of a short article for publication in relevant newspapers and/or magazines;
  • promoting of the Guidelines at the Sustainable Business Conference to be held later in 2005.

MFAT indicated that they would:

• approach NZ Aid (the New Zealand government's international aid and development agency) and request that a link to the Guidelines be added to their website;
• highlight the Guidelines at an up-coming interdepartmental meeting on the OECD work agenda in an effort to raise the profile of the Guidelines amongst key government officials;
• investigate using New Zealand's High Commissions, Embassies and Consulates to promote the Guidelines.

Other Discussion

The meeting discussed the potential link of the Guidelines with Responsible Labour Practices in Government Procurement being prepared by Department of Labour.

The synergies between the Guidelines and the development of ISO 26000 by the International Organisation for Standardization were also discussed. The Group considered the possibility of preparing a document on how the work of other agencies, both in New Zealand and internationally, linked into the Guidelines. It was agreed to explore the feasibility of this further at the next meeting.

The meeting also noted that the government has indicated its intention to amend section 10 of the Standards Act 1998 to provide the Standards Council with the function of developing standards "minimising environmental risks" and "promoting social responsibility".

TUAC Report on the Treatment of Instances Raised with NCPs

Whilst noting that no specific instances of alleged breach of the Guidelines have been brought to the attention of the New Zealand NCP, the meeting examined the report prepared by TUAC on the Treatment of Cases Raised with National Contact Points 2001-2005 and noted:

• the existence of legislation in New Zealand containing effective enforcement provisions means that the OECD Guidelines have been used as a leverage tool to encourage companies to comply with their legal obligations;
• it may be appropriate to bring the Guidelines to the attention of New Zealand companies operating in the Pacific Islands.

Follow-Up

James Dalton will attend the meeting of NCPs at the OECD from 16-17 June following which another meeting of the Liaison Group will be held.