Multinational corporations: increasingly accountable for their human rights behavior?

In the United States a consumer action group set up in protest at the modern slavery policy used in Nestlé’s supply chain in Thailand for the production of pets feed products represents the latest in a series. The week prior, a class action was brought against the distribution corporation Costco that is suspected to distribute shrimp; also the result of modern slavery in Thailand. These and other legal actions (for example the Sherpa organization filed a complaint for forced labor in Qatar against Vinci) combined with national and international measures are increasing the pressure on multinationals.
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A group of consumers has brought Nestlé to court for suspected breaches of California laws on unfair Competition Law, Consumers Legal Remedies Act and False Advertising Law. competition law because the company the company did not report that it was using slave labor in its sub-contracting supply chain. In its defense the Swiss company has highlighted that it has produced very clear guidelines on prohibiting the use of forced labor and has distributed them to its sub-contractors. Vinci...

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