Swiss Contact Point welcomes Korean trade union delegation
Bern, 21.11.2003 - OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises The National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which is based at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), welcomed trade union representatives from South Korea on 21 November 2003. They discussed issues regarding the application of the guidelines to a labour dispute that began in July 2003 at the South Korean Nestlé subsidiary.
The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which have been in force since 2000 and have been accepted by 37 governments, give joint recommendations for responsible entrepreneurial conduct abroad in accordance with existing legislation. Specific issues concerning the application of the guidelines can be submitted to National Contact Points in all participating states. These are aimed at resolving disputes by offering good offices and facilitating consensual means of settlement. The Swiss Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines is based at SECO.
The meeting gave the South Korean trade union delegation the opportunity to give their view of observance of the OECD guidelines in the labour dispute at Nestlé Korea, which began in July 2003. Specific application issues in connection with this dispute had already been submitted some weeks previously to both National Contact Points, i.e. at the South Korean Ministry of Trade as well as at seco. Result-oriented and confidential talks between the two Contact Points and the parties to the dispute are taking place in both countries. The Contact Points will announce the outcome in due course in accordance with the procedural principles of the OECD Guidelines or issue recommendations for the application of the Guidelines.
Bern, 21 November 2003
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs
Communication
Information:
Ivo Kaufmann
Head
National Contact Point
Tel. +41 (0)31 324 08 54
Antje Baertschi
communication delegate
Tel. +41 (0)31 323 52 75
Further information on the OECD Guidelines for multinational enterprises can be found on the OECD website
Publisher
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs
http://www.seco.admin.ch
