Read the initial assessment issued by the UK NCP – June 2016

On 14 July 2015, an individual submitted a specific instance to the NCP regarding his treatment by his employer, an energy company in Cameroon, between 2002 and 2014. The submission referred to a UK investment company that in 2014 acquired a majority shareholding in the employer company in Cameroon. The submission alleged that the UK investment company failed to improve the poor governance practices of the energy company, referring to alleged unjustified and arbitrary changes to the position and salary of the submitter, and the falsification or withholding of employment records.

The NCP invited the UK investment company to respond. The company noted that it does not have any role in day to day management of the submitter’s employer, but that on acquiring its shareholding, it made some changes to personnel and policies of this company to strengthen its corporate governance. It also noted that most events referred to in the submission occurred before its shareholding, and that the submitter’s employment dispute had been addressed through the proper process and the compensation legally due to him has been paid.

The UK NCP did not accept the specific instance for further examination. The information provided shows that the submitter may have a genuine employment grievance, but the UK NCP does not consider that the information substantiates anissue about the observance of the Guidelines by the UK company named.

In June 2016, the UK NCP published an initial assessment not accepting the submission.