The OECD is consulting on a targeted update of the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which were last updated in 2011.

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Targeted update of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (the Guidelines) set out recommendations from governments to businesses for ensuring responsible business conduct in all areas where business interacts with society, including human rights, labour rights, environment, bribery, consumer interests, as well as disclosure, science and technology, competition, and taxation. The OECD Guidelines are complemented by Implementation Procedures, which set out the role and functions of the National Contact Points for Responsible Business Conduct.

The OECD Guidelines were last revised in 2011 and the OECD Working Party on Responsible Business Conduct (WPRBC) is currently working towards a targeted update of the Guidelines and Implementation Procedures to advance their uptake and promotion, as well as to ensure they remain fit for purpose.

Public consultation

The OECD is currently inviting interested stakeholders to comment on a consultation draft of potential updates. The public consultation is open to all interested stakeholders from all countries, including businesses, industry groups, civil society organisations, trade unions, as well as academia, interested citizens, international organisations and governmental experts (including from non-Adherent countries).

You can submit your comments by responding to the consultation survey. The public consultation is open until 10 February 2023.

Please note that following the consultation period, all responses and names of submitters will be made publicly available.

For any questions, please contact rbc@oecd.org

Consultation draft on the OECD Guidelines for MNEs and their implementation procedures

The consultation draft outlines potential updates to the Guidelines chapters and to their implementation procedures. The potential updates reflect discussion by the WPRBC but do not constitute agreed text. As a working document, the draft is subject to change, including but not limited to changes to incorporate feedback received in the course of this public consultation.

The targeted update is guided by a set of parameters set out by the WPRBC:

• the update excludes a wholesale revision of the Guidelines or a full redrafting of existing chapters
• potential updates are based on issues raised in the preceding stocktaking exercise and current understanding and practice by Adherents
• the update is further guided by the criteria of (i) ensuring coherence with OECD priorities and standards; (ii) enhancing the OECD's leadership on RBC; (iii) building on achievements and strengths; and (iv) ensuring focus and proportionality.

Within these parameters, the consultation draft contains potential updates to all chapters of the Guidelines. However, the majority of potential updates occur in the chapter on Environment, the chapter on Science and Technology as well as in the Implementation Procedures concerning the National Contact Points for Responsible Business Conduct.