Direção-Geral das Atividades Económicas

Siga-nos no

Submenu

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are recommendations made by the governments of member countries to companies operating within or from their territories. These Guidelines are a voluntary adoption instrument, which brings together a set of recommendations aimed at companies, for Responsible Business Conduct in a global context, in accordance with internationally recognized laws and standards.

The Guidelines are the only multilaterally approved and comprehensive code of Responsible Business Conduct that governments are committed to promoting.

The Guidelines arise from the adoption in 1976 of the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises, currently signed by 51 governments, including 38 member countries and 13 non-OECD countries. This Declaration commits governments to attracting international investment by setting clear conditions and promoting the positive contributions that business can make to societies.

The 2023 edition of the Guidelines provides updated recommendations for responsible business conduct across key areas, such as climate change, biodiversity, technology, business integrity and supply chain due diligence, as well as updated implementation procedures for the National Contact Points for Responsible Business Conduct.

More information:

OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct – 2023 edition;

OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct in a Nutshell (Produced by OECD)

Brief presentation of the 11 chapters that make up the Guidelines :

Chapter I. Concepts and Principles

The Guidelines pillar: identifies fundamental ideas that contextualize the following chapters. The Guidelines are a set of recommendations that establish principles and standards of good practice, whose adoption is voluntary.

Chapter II. General Policies

It contains recommendations addressed to companies, including provisions such as implementing due diligence, addressing adverse impacts and engaging stakeholders.

Chapter III. Disclosure

Enterprises are facing increasing demands for disclosure of sustainability information. They should disclose information on all material matters that can reasonably be expected to influence an investor’s assessment of the enterprise’s value. It is also important that they communicate credible information on their due diligence processes and the impacts of their operations, products and services on people, planet and society.

Chapter IV. Human rights

Enterprises should avoid causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts and address such impacts when they occur. They should also seek ways to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impacts that they are directly linked to by a business relation- ship. The Human Rights Chapter of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises is fully aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Chapter V. Employment and Industrial Relations

Enterprises should avoid any unlawful employment and industrial relations practices and respect the right of workers to establish or join trade unions and organisations of their own choosing, including for the purpose of collective bargaining and negotiations. They should contribute to the effective abolition of child labour and to the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; beguided by the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment; and provide a safe and healthy working environment. The Employment and Industrial Relations Chapter of the Guidelines is fully aligned with the ILO Declaration on Funda- mental Principles and Rights at Work.

Chapter VI. Environment

Enterprises should conduct due diligence to address adverse environ- mental impacts of their operations, products and services. This includes impacts such as climate change; biodiversity loss; degradation of land, marine and freshwater ecosystems; deforestation; air, water and soil pollution; mismanagement of waste, including hazardous substances. Enterprises should ensure that their greenhouse gas emissions and impact on carbon sinks are consistent with internationally agreed global temperature goals. They should assess and address social impacts in the context of their climate action and environmental management.

Chapter VII. Combating Bribery and Other Forms of Corruption

Adverse impacts on matters covered by the Guidelines are often enabled

by means of corruption. Enterprises should have measures in place to prevent, detect and address bribery and other forms of corruption, including through their business relationships.

Chapter VIII. Consumer interests

Enterprises should apply fair marketing practices and ensure the quality and reliability of their products. They should provide accurate, verifiable and clear in- formation that is sufficient to enable consumers to make informed decisions. Any product and environmental or social claims that enterprises make should be based on adequate evidence.

Chapter IX. Science, Technology and Innovation

Technology has a profound impact on the matters covered by the Guidelines, including sustainable development, human rights, economic participation, the quality of democracy, social cohesion, climate change, the global business and labour landscape and market dynamics. Enterprises should conduct due diligence to prevent and address adverse impacts related to development, licensing, sale, trade and use of science, technology and innovation.

Chapter X. Competition

Companies should carry out their activities in a manner consistent with all applicable competition laws and regulations, considering the competition laws of all jurisdictions in which the activities may have anti-competitive effects. Enterprises need to refrain from anti-competitive agreements, which undermine the efficient operation of both domestic and international markets.

Chapter XI. Taxation

It is important that enterprises contribute to the public finances of host countries by making timely payment of their tax liabilities. Tax transparency supports the integrity of a country’s tax system and is an important way of ensuring and demonstrating that enterprises comply with the letter and spirit of tax laws. Corporate boards should adopt tax risk management strategies to ensure that the financial, regulatory and reputational risks associated with taxation are fully identified and evaluated.

Voltar