After three years of parliamentary back and forth, it is now clear: as the National Council and Council of States were unable to agree on a viable counter-proposal, the Responsible Business Initiative will be put to the ballot box. Swiss voters are expected to be able to decide in November that Swiss companies should be held accountable if they violate human rights and destroy the environment.
In the end, the big corporations won through with their lobbying in parliament. At yesterday’s agreement conference, it was decided to submit only an alibi counter-proposal to the Responsible Business Initiative to both chambers of parliament. In this proposal, corporations such as Glencore and Syngenta would not be held responsible for any damage caused, but would simply publish a glossy brochure once a year. A conciliation conference will take place if the National Council and the Council of States are unable to resolve their differences despite three consultations each.
There was certainly an alternative to the alibi counter-proposal. Broad sections of the business community such as Coop, Migros, the fial food association and the Conference of Economic Directors had backed an effective counter-proposal from the National Council, which would have led to the initiative being withdrawn. The alibi counter-proposal does not bring any improvements, but is intended to fool voters into believing that the Responsible Business Initiative is not needed. The National Council and Council of States will decide next week whether to confirm the alibi counter-proposal.
The referendum campaign has thus been launched and full support is now needed for the Responsible Business Initiative. It must become even better known and more visible. You can order campaign material free of charge here ( https://konzern-initiative.ch/kampagnenmaterial/ )
Do you want to be even more active? Motivate like-minded people in your region to hang up a flag in their homes by telephone. You can register here: ( https://konzern-initiative.ch/fahnen-telefonieren )
The initiative demands something that goes without saying: companies that poison rivers and rely on child labor should be held accountable.
