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Multinational Companies and Human Rights

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Multinational Companies and Human Rights

Ever since globalism has become the dominate economic system in the modern world, many companies specifically in the United States have found the benefits of moving manufacturing jobs out of the US in favor of countries that pay workers very low wages. These countries often times do not have the same stringent labor laws and enforcement features in place as in the US and as a result human rights abuses are much more pronounced and more apt to be violated. As more consumers in western nations become more educated about where their products are being manufactured and how many people are being mistreated and abused all in the name of making products cheaply, they are demanding that multinational companies or MNCs take more responsibility in making sure human rights are not being violated.
An example of a way MNCs are attempting to take responsibility for ensuring workers human rights are the establishment of various codes of conducts. One such code of conduct mentioned in our textbook is the Anti-Sweatshop Code of Conduct established by former President Bill Clinton. The code which “includes a ban on forced labor, abuse, and discrimination requires companies to provide a healthy and safe work environment and to pay at least the prevailing local minimum wage, among other requirements” (Deresky, 2011). This particular code of conduct works in conjunction with the Department of Labor who essentially publishes the names of companies that are in compliance of the code. Another established code of conduct is the Electronics Industry Code of Conduct or EICC which was created when a group of electronics manufacturing companies got together and came up with their own set of rules.
“The EICC comprises of Hewlett-Packard, Dell, IBM, Intel and 12 other tech companies who agree to the following: bans on forced and child labor and excessive overtime, requires contract manufacturers to follow some basic environmental requirements, and requires each company to audit its overseas suppliers to ensure compliance, following a common factory inspection system for all members” (Deresky, 2011).

Of course codes of conduct are not the only ways multinational companies are taking responsibility when it comes to human rights. Many companies operate in various areas in the world that are very dangerous and unstable which often results in gross violations of basic human rights for those that live and make a living in these areas. There are several examples of MNCs operating in various industries such as oil and natural gas, diamonds, and natural resources in countries that do little to protect their citizens from harm. The United Nations Global Compact, which was started by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan “to harness the energy and influence of multinational corporations in promoting human rights and avoiding conflict” (Bennett, 2001) highlights many of the initiatives that several MNCs and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) have engaged in through various theaters around the world. Examples of these programs includes the “Swiss-Swedish construction company ABB working in the Balkans region by encouraging diversity and improved ethnic relations in the workplace by bringing Serbs, Kosovars and Bosnians together to work on re-building war damaged electricity infrastructure” (Bennett, Jan. 2001). Another example “in the Middle East is the Shimon Peres Center, which promotes business links between Palestinian and Israeli companies” (Bennett, Jan. 2001). As we can see MNCs are now understanding that it is equally important and in their best interest to ensure that they use their power and influence in the regions they choose to conduct business to effect change for the better for workers. They have learned to institute codes of conduct that set in place guidelines that they have committed to follow as far what is acceptable and not in regards to human rights. We also see that many companies have also gone even further and engaged with various governments and communities in volatile places to promote peace and tolerance between differing groups. Actions to ensure all rights are respected can only help companies become more profitable as the quality of product will improve when the quality of workers environments are improved.

References

Bennet, J. (2001, January). Business in Zones of Conflict-The Role of the Multinationals in Promoting Regional Stability. Retrieved from http://www.unglobalcompact.org/issues/conflict_prevention/meetings_and_workshops/Reg_stability.html Deresky, H. (2011). International management: managing across borders and cultures. (7th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice-Hall.

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