COVID-19 and Responsible Business Conduct

The COVID-19 crisis has dramatically disrupted business and exposed major vulnerabilities in the economy and global supply chains.

Responsible business conduct (RBC) can serve governments and business in shaping responses to the crisis and ultimately create short and long-term benefits. It can increase resilience, build a fairer and more inclusive distribution of benefits from the recovery measures, and a stronger contribution to sustainable development, to name only a few benefits. Adopting a RBC approach will ultimately help ensure that the environmental, social and other governance issues set down in internationally recognised RBC standards are central in the design and implementation of both government and business responses.

This page gathers work on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on RBC and supply chains, and it presents views on how adopting a RBC approach and creating partnerships can build value and more resilient supply chains.

Due Diligence of Mineral Supply Chains during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This document brings together Multi-stakeholder contributions on conducting due diligence during the COVID-19 pandemic, including efforts to maintain the integrity of due diligence and lessons learned related to strengthening the resilience of supply chain due diligence systems in anticipation of future disruptions.

OECD Policy note on COVID-19 & RBC | FR | ESP | DEU | POL

This note reviews the challenges the COVID-19 crisis presents for business behaviour and outlines initial responses by governments and companies. It describes the rationale and method for adopting a responsible business conduct approach to address the crisis and sets down the potential short-term and long-term benefits of such an approach.

• Short overview of the note | ESP | POL

Joining forces in LAC to help minimise the COVID-19 crisis and foster responsible and sustainable businesses | ESP | PORT

This joint statement by various stakeholders underlines the commitment of international organisations to supporting Latin American and Caribbean countries, business, employers, workers' organisations and other stakeholders in addressing the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 - Call to Action for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains | FR

The Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group overseeing the implementation of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains adopted a Call for Action in response to the Covid-19 crisis. The Group calls for other organisations to heed the call and take action.

How can fashion brands mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on garment workers?

This blog looks at how the OECD Guidance on Responsible Business Conduct can help governments and businesses address the impact of COVID-19 and ultimately mitigate harm to workers and supply chains in the garment sector. 

The OECD National Contact Points for Responsible Business Conduct at 20

In her blog Christine Kaufmann, the Chair of the OECD Working Party on RBC, reflects on NCPs' achievements to date and their role in the future. The blog also looks at the role of an NCP in times of COVID-19.  

OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct

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Market consultation

Application deadline: 10 May 2021

The OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct is seeking consultant(s) with expertise in market intelligence to support a survey and interview activities targeting businesses. 

The goal of these activities will be to generate information as part of a study on the extent and nature of companies’ use of responsible business conduct practices during the COVID-19 pandemic and related outcomes for business resilience.  

More information

The 2021 Global Forum on RBC will take place virtually on 15-17 June.

This year, discussions will explore what works, what needs to change and, importantly, how to strengthen collaborative action to achieve a more sustainable tomorrow for people, planet and society.

How can we as policymakers, business leaders, activists and citizens integrate responsible business thinking into policies and action to bring remedy to people, meet the Sustainable Development Goals and tackle climate change?

More about the Forum