Any natural or legal person can lodge a complaint at one of the OECD’s National Contact Points (NCPs) regarding the breach of the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, regardless of whether the complainant has been personally affected.
The OECD guidelines oblige companies from signatory states to respect human rights in the course of foreign business operations. A complaint can be made to the NCP in the country where the company is based or where it conducts business. The NCP does not have the power to impose sanctions, but it can arrange mediation between the complainants/victims and the company. If no agreement is reached, the NCP may issue a final report assessing the company’s conduct.
Textile industry
A few months before the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Dhaka, TÜV Rheinland audited the production facilities at textile producer Phantom Apparel Ltd as part of a social audit. ECCHR argues that TÜV Rheinland ignored professional auditing standards.
