Corporate Responsibility – No expansion of liability rules for corporations – News

• The group responsibility initiative failed because of the booth.
• According to the SRG extrapolation, 14.5 stands say no, at 8.5 stands the initiative has an affirmative majority.
• The indirect counterproposal now enters into force.

In each of the polls a yes had emerged, but the lead melted noticeably in the weeks leading up to the elections. In the end, the trade associations, most of the bourgeois parties and the Federal Council managed to convince people to say no.

The popular initiative wanted to expand the responsibility

The popular initiative demanded that Swiss-based companies be subject to mandatory regulations when it comes to meeting human rights and environmental protection standards in their global activities. If a company fails to comply with the new due diligence obligation, it should also be liable for any damages caused by its subsidiaries and foreign controlled suppliers.

Now the indirect counterproposal comes into effect, which was designed by Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter and which Parliament finally approved shortly after much coming and going over the summer. The law includes information obligations for certain companies. When it comes to conflict minerals and child labor, companies must also comply with due diligence obligations. Infractions are punishable by a fine.

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There are no plans to extend the liability rules. Affiliates and economically dependent suppliers remain liable for damages they cause themselves and, as a rule, locally in accordance with local law. The initiative committee spoke of a “counterproposal for alibi” due to the waiver of additional liability rules. Opponents of the initiative considered that only the counterproposal was viable and effective.

Emotional voting battle

Following this vote on Sunday, the comparatively intense voting campaign on both sides will also be remembered. Both starters and opponents have been in campaign mode for the past few weeks and months. Ethical and moral issues in particular gave rise to discussion.

The differences of opinion were partly between the parties. The bourgeois parties were divided for or against the initiative. The regional churches got involved in the voting campaign and recommended a yes.

Tens of thousands of orange flags have been flown across the country for years to draw attention to the concerns of the initiators. All in all, it must have been one of the most expensive voting fights of the recent past.