ABSTRACT

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) promotes policies that contribute to economic growth and development. The OECD has made a significant contribution to corporate social responsibility by developing several corporate responsibility (CR)-related principles, including the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance and the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. The Guidelines are among the most comprehensive of CR tools, addressing a range of issues unparalleled in any single CR instrument. The OECD requires each member state to appoint a National Contact Point (NCP) to promote the Guidelines. The NCP also addresses issues that may arise from the Guidelines, by assessing the problem and assisting the parties to reach an agreement through mediation. The Guidelines are a useful starting point and checklist for all companies, but they are especially so for multinational corporations.