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Employment and industrial relations in Brazil
Lead NCPBrazil
Supporting NCP(s)None Selected
DescriptionSpecific instance notified by the trade unions National Confederation of Financial Sector Workers (CONTRAF) and Unified Workers' Central (CUT) regarding the activities of ABM AMRO in Brazil.
Theme(s)Employment and industrial relations
Date19 Apr 2007
Host country(ies)Brazil
SourceTrade Union
Industry sectorFinancial and insurance activities
StatusConcluded
Summary

Read the final statement issued by the Brazilian NCP concluding the specific instance – 14 September 2012


On 19 April 2007, the Brazilian NCP received a request for review by the trade unions National Confederation of Financial Sector Workers (CONTRAF) and Unified Workers' Central (CUT) alleging that ABN AMRO had breached the employment and industrial relations provisions of the Guidelines in Brazil by, among others, refusing to negotiate with the labour union and withholding important information regarding a profit sharing plan and changes in workers' health plans.

The NCP accepted the specific instance and in June 2008, ABN AMRO answered the trade unions' claims and requested the closing of the specific instance. According to the enterprise:

  • ABN AMRO is not a multinational company and the OECD Guidelines do not apply to their activities;
  • the facts on which the request was based had occurred more than 12 months before the notification to the NCP; and
  • there was no clear focus or valid supporting documents for the complaint.

ABN AMRO also contested each of the trade unions' allegations.

Following an analysis of the information provided by the company, in September 2008, the NCP Brazil requested additional information on both parties. The NCP received no response from the company or the trade unions.

In August 2012 the NCP received a formal request from the trade unions to conclude the specific instance because the legal entity ABN AMRO had been incorporated into Banco Santander in November 2011. The trade unions stated however that the ABN AMRO bank was sold to Santander without the problems raised being solved. The NCP duly concluded the specific instance and issued a final statement.