The “Coalition for Responsible Multinationals” has submitted a petition with 217,509 signatures to the Federal Chancellery. It calls on the government and parliament to enact an effective law for corporate responsibility, based on an EU model.
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Petição quer que multinacionais sejam responsabilizadas
Exactly two years after the vote to hold Swiss companies accountable for their actions abroad narrowly failed – the initiative was accepted by 50.7% of voters but rejected by a majority of cantons – the initiators have submitted a petition to Bern.
As the EU prepares to introduce a law on the responsibility of multinationals, the government must keep the promise it made during the 2020 referendum campaign, said coalition member and former parliamentarian Dick Marty on Thursday.
“If a multinational like Glencore violates human rights or destroys the environment, it’s still not held accountable,” said Chantal Peyer, political advisor to charity HEKS and also a member of the coalition’s committee.
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Responsible business initiative rejected at the ballot box
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A majority of cantons rejected the responsible business initiative, sealing its fate. But it managed to secure the popular vote.
Since the vote in November 2020, new cases of human rights violations and environmental pollution by multinationals based in Switzerland have regularly been made public, the coalition pointed out. At the end of September, Tamedia newspapers revealedExternal link that Swiss bank UBS was financing Brazilian agribusiness multinationals involved in illegal deforestation.
The world’s leading container shipping company MSC has its ships dismantled in catastrophic conditions on Indian beaches, the coalition said. In addition, new documents reveal how Syngenta concealed the dangers of its pesticide Paraquat.
“Multinational companies must be held accountable for the damage they cause. This is the only way to avoid such problems in future,” concluded Rahel Ruch, director of the Coalition for Responsible Multinationals.
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Why big companies fear the Responsible Business Initiative
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Big multinationals have voiced opposition to an initiative to make companies more accountable for their actions abroad. What are they afraid of?
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Swiss parliament calls for further security cooperation with EU
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The House of Representatives has called on the Swiss government to take a more proactive approach to European security policy.
Switzerland has no US-style fentanyl problem, says health minister
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There is very little chance of a US-sized fentanyl epidemic in Switzerland, says health minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider.
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Two fish species recently discovered in Switzerland have been called fluvicola and ommata, following an appeal to the public for names.
Convicted ex-shipowner achieves partial success in Swiss court
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The Federal Supreme Court orders lower court to reassess part of its verdict against former Swiss shipowner Hans-Jürg Grunder.
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A Swiss moratorium on the genetic engineering of plants, which expires at the end of 2025, could be extended for five years.
SWISS airline achieves second-best profit in history
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Revenues soared for Swiss International Air Lines in 2024, contributing to the second-largest profit in the company's history.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
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How easy is it to hold Swiss companies to account abroad?
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Swiss citizens may soon vote on whether to make companies liable for their actions abroad. Three stories show the challenges of getting justice.
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One of the most controversial issues in the debate on the ‘responsible business’ initiative concerns the scope of the Swiss proposal.
Responsible Business debate could cause ripple effects globally
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Swiss parliament decides this week on an initiative to hold companies accountable for their impacts on human rights and the environment.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.