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View this email in your browser <https://mailchi.mp/law/perspective-329?e=763bcf158c> 哥伦比亚大学国际直接投资展望中文版都可以在我们的网站查看: https://ccsi.columbia.edu/content/columbia-fdi-perspectives <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=4a9ddef7d0&e=763bcf158c> . *Columbia FDI Perspectives* Perspectives on topical foreign direct investment issues Editor-in-Chief: Karl P. Sauvant ([log in to unmask]) Managing Editor: Riccardo Loschi ([log in to unmask]) *The Columbia FDI Perspectives are a forum for public debate. The views expressed by the authors do not reflect the opinions of CCSI or our partners and supporters.* No. 329 April 18, 2022 *They can run but they can’t hide: MNEs and responsible business conduct <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=9d8cb7e90a&e=763bcf158c> * by Stephen Pursey* <#m_3009539867330053166__edn1> The story of the past nearly 50 years of responsible business conduct (RBC) codes is that of “irresponsible” companies trying to run and hide in countries in which national laws do not meet international standards, and of unions, civil society, most governments, and responsible companies finding ways to expose them. To counteract such “free-riding”, RBC instruments increasingly require countries and companies to provide information on their efforts to implement their principles, making it ever harder for rogue businesses to hide their behavior. A notable example of how nominally non-binding instruments are becoming more effective is the evolution of the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy (MNE Declaration) <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=51d64a7416&e=763bcf158c>. In the heated discussions of the 1970s about global development, trade unions (which represent workers in ILO member states) had pressed for an ILO Convention on MNE labor practices. Because ILO Conventions bind ratifying states and become part of their domestic legal framework, employers and most governments benefitting from the bulk of FDI flows opposed the idea. An important further consideration was that an ILO Declaration, while voluntary, has global reach, while a Convention only binds ratifying states. With the likelihood that few governments would ratify a Convention, trade unions accepted the compromise of a Declaration that included follow-up mechanisms to deal with disputes, as well as information gathering and research, promotional activities and company-union dialogues. These follow-up mechanisms regularly alert MNEs and governments of their responsibilities and support their efforts to meet them. Today, countries wishing to attract socially responsible FDI can use the MNE Declaration as a framework to strengthen their domestic labor and social laws and policies based on the Conventions upon which the MNE Declaration draws (e.g., the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=fd44e83255&e=763bcf158c>). These principles are also incorporated or mirrored in most social responsibility instruments.[1] <#m_3009539867330053166__edn2> The authority of the MNE Declaration is further enhanced by its global backing by host and home countries, as well as employers and unions. This reinforces the reputational damage that exposure of abuses causes. The International Organization of Employers works with its national members to foster socially responsible business conduct. Likewise, the International Trade Union Confederation and its partners in the Global Unions Federation encourage their members to pressure companies to apply the MNE Declaration’s principles. The latest version of the MNE Declaration promotes company-union dialogue <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=8072d14408&e=763bcf158c> . The 2006 ILO Maritime Labour Convention <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=5bd185b0fc&e=763bcf158c>—dealing with the rights of seafarers—goes further in counteracting the attraction of “social irresponsibility havens”. This Convention requires mandatory inspections of foreign ships by port countries to enforce seafarers’ rights (Regulation 5.2.1). Its ratification by the most important port countries means that practically all ships have to comply with the Convention’s requirements, even if the vessels are registered in non-signatory countries where the protections for seafarers are weaker. In a similar way, countries could require MNEs operating in their territories to prepare global due diligence reports on their compliance with internationally recognized principles and standards of responsible business conduct, *wherever they are operating*. Momentum is building in this direction. In 2017, the G20 committed “to fostering the implementation of labor, social and environmental standards and human rights in line with internationally recognized frameworks”.[2] <#m_3009539867330053166__edn3> The UN, the ILO and the OECD have jointly called on businesses to “undertake due diligence to identify, prevent and mitigate their actual and potential negative impacts and account for how those impacts are addressed”.[3] <#m_3009539867330053166__edn4> The European Commission is preparing a legislative proposal on Sustainable Corporate Governance <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=cc2b810309&e=763bcf158c> to introduce mandatory due diligence reporting by MNEs operating in the EU. The current draft of a new UN instrument <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=32b05ad455&e=763bcf158c> on human, labor and environmental rights and MNEs would require MNEs in ratifying states to undertake due diligence reporting. Action along these lines would make it more difficult for irresponsible companies to run and hide. However, the credibility of due diligence reports will be suspect if MNEs prepared reports themselves or through their accountants or ESG consultancies. Few of such ESG auditors are well qualified to do workplace labor inspections, especially along supply chains. Indeed, the people best placed to identify behavior contrary to RBC labor principles are workers and their unions—but speaking out all too often leads to dismissal. The protection of workers’ rights is fundamental. As a next step, therefore, it would be important to establish ILO global social and labor qualifications for auditors that make “running and hiding” truly hard, not least by ensuring that the voice of workers is heard and acted upon. ------------------------------ * <#m_3009539867330053166__ednref1> Stephen Pursey ([log in to unmask]) is a visiting fellow at Newcastle University and a former official of the ILO and the ICFTU. The author wishes to thank Peter Muchlinski, Marie-Estelle Rey and Githa Roelans for their helpful peer reviews. [1] <#m_3009539867330053166__ednref2> The OECD Multinationals Guidelines <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=c7493c93c7&e=763bcf158c>, the UN Global Compact <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=792b1ab17f&e=763bcf158c> are examples. Delegates are currently discussing the inclusion of a reference to the MNE Declaration in the WTO’s Investment Facilitation Framework for Development <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=83c8db39bc&e=763bcf158c>, similar to the European Council Conclusions on Human Rights and Decent Work in Global Supply Chains <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=009908fbaa&e=763bcf158c> . [2] <#m_3009539867330053166__ednref3> See Hamburg Leaders’ Declaration <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=ab772354d8&e=763bcf158c>, p. 4. [3] <#m_3009539867330053166__ednref4> ILO, UNHR and OECD, *Responsible business – Key messages from international instruments* (Geneva: ILO, 2019) <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=a43a4a5185&e=763bcf158c>, p. 4. *The material in this Perspective may be reprinted if accompanied by the following acknowledgment: “Stephen Pursey, ‘They can run but they can’t hide: MNEs and responsible business conduct,’ Columbia FDI Perspectives No. 329, April 18, 2022. Reprinted with permission from the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (**http://ccsi.columbia.edu* <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=b4dcda53dd&e=763bcf158c>*).” A copy should kindly be sent to the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment at **[log in to unmask]* <[log in to unmask]>*.* For further information, including information regarding submission to the *Perspectives*, please contact: Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, Riccardo Loschi, [log in to unmask]; Luca Jobbagy, [log in to unmask] *Most recent Columbia FDI Perspectives* <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=54ddd91e09&e=763bcf158c> - No. 328, Roger Strange, “The future of global value chains: Key issues,” Columbia FDI Perspectives, April 4, 2022 - No. 327, Ucheora Onwuamaegbu, “A managed dispute-resolution insurance scheme for countries in investor-state arbitration: Ensuring early legal representation of respondents,” Columbia FDI Perspectives, March 21, 2022 - No. 326, Meg Kinnear, “The launch of a new generation of the ICSID Rules,” Columbia FDI Perspectives, March 7, 2022 *All previous FDI Perspectives are available at https://ccsi.columbia.edu/content/columbia-fdi-perspectives <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=8634ad9191&e=763bcf158c>* . *Other relevant CCSI news and announcements* - *Job Opening: Senior Legal Researcher, Investment Law and Policy: *This position will collaborate with CCSI’s Director and Research Staff to execute the Center’s applied research agenda on the laws, policies, and practices that shape international investment and its alignment with sustainable development and human rights. *Please see here <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=3a5b6a77ae&e=763bcf158c> for more details and to apply by April 21, 2022.* - *Job Opening: Senior Legal Researcher, Land, Agriculture and Food Systems: *CCSI is seeking a Senior Legal Researcher to work on our Land, Agriculture & Food Systems <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=555e0fb3de&e=763bcf158c> portfolio of projects. The position will support research, advisory work, and the organization and delivery of capacity building programs related to CCSI’s work on strengthening the governance of land-based investment (including agriculture, extractive industries, renewable energy projects, and nature-based solutions). *Please see here <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=a5c72d2888&e=763bcf158c> for more details and to apply by May 30, 2022.* - *Job Opening: Program Associate: *Reporting to the Director of CCSI, the Program Associate will support a wide range of research, operational, and administrative responsibilities. This position is ideal for graduating students. *Please see here <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ab15cc1d53&id=28589ac146&e=763bcf158c> for more details and to apply.* Interested candidates are encouraged to apply soon; applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Karl P. Sauvant, Ph.D. Resident Senior Fellow Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment Columbia Law School - Earth Institute Ph: (212) 854-0689 Fax: (212) 854-7946 *Copyright © 2022 Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), All rights reserved.* [log in to unmask] *Our mailing address is:* Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) Columbia Law School - Earth Institute, Columbia University 435 West 116th Street New York, NY 10027 Add us to your address book <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/vcard?u=ab15cc1d53&id=a61bf1d34a> unsubscribe from this list <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=ab15cc1d53&id=a61bf1d34a&e=763bcf158c&c=e249136c70> update subscription preferences <https://columbia.us6.list-manage.com/profile?u=ab15cc1d53&id=a61bf1d34a&e=763bcf158c&c=e249136c70> [image: Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp] <http://www.mailchimp.com/email-referral/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=referral_marketing&aid=ab15cc1d53&afl=1> *Karl P. 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JGH 825, New York, NY 10027 | p: (212) 854 0689 | cell: (646) 724 5600 e: [log in to unmask] | w: www.ccsi.columbia.edu | t: @CCSI_Columbia <https://twitter.com/CCSI_Columbia> "How Would a Future WTO Agreement on Investment Facilitation for Development Encourage Sustainable FDI Flows, and How Could it be Further Strengthened?”, "What Foreign Investors Want: Findings from an Investor Survey", "Incentivising Sustainable FDI", "Leveraging Digital FDI for Capacity and Competitiveness", "Green FDI: Encouraging Carbon-neutral Investment", "Facilitating Sustainable Investment to Build Back Better", "Extending International Legal Aid from Trade to Investment: An Advisory Centre on International Investment Law", "Increasing Transparency in Investment Facilitation: Focussed Support is Needed", *Investment Facilitation for Development: A Toolkit for Policymakers*, "More Attention to Policies! Improving the Distribution of FDI Benefits. The Need for Policy-oriented Research, Advice and Advocacy", "More and Better Investment Now!", "Facilitating Sustainable FDI in a WTO Investment Facilitation Framework: Four Concrete Proposals", "An Inventory of Concrete Measures to Facilitate the Flow of Sustainable FDI: What? Why? How?", are available at https://ssrn.com/author=2461782 . ____ AIB-L is brought to you by the Academy of International Business. For information: http://aib.msu.edu/community/aib-l.asp To post message: [log in to unmask] For assistance: [log in to unmask] AIB-L is a moderated list.