Annual reports on the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

2020 Annual Report on NCP Activity

The 2020 Annual Report on NCP Activity covers the activities undertaken to promote the effective implementation of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises by the OECD secretariat, adherents to the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and their National Contact Points for RBC from January to December 2020.

The year 2020 has been a notable one for NCPs for two main reasons. First, it marked the 20th anniversary of NCPs as non-judicial grievance mechanisms. Several activities were organised on this important milestone. The Secretariat published a report highlighting the many strengths and achievements of NCPs in addressing corporate impacts in an increasingly complex and globalised world, but also some enduring challenges and weaknesses that may hinder their contribution to remedy. In this regard, the report identifies a number of avenues for governments to strengthen their NCPs and maximise their contribution to remedy. The Global Forum on Responsible Business Conduct was also partly dedicated to access to remedy and NCPs as part of their 20th anniversary.

Second, NCP activity was strongly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as office closures, meeting restrictions and travel bans disrupted their ability to deliver on their mandates. Like for most government services, this led to events cancellations and delayed work. However, NCPs were progressively able to adjust and ensure that promoting the Guidelines and handling could continue largely remotely.

Read the 2020 Annual Report : English