Let’s close the gap between Switzerland and EU in human rights due diligence!

In March 2023, Shareholders for Change alongside other 20 Swiss and international institutional investors sent a co-signed letter on Human Rights and Environmental due diligence to members of the Swiss Parliament. Our request was to adopt a comprehensive human rights and environmental due diligence legislation in Switzerland just like Germany did at the beginning of the year with the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act.

Last March, in a co-signed investor statement, Ethos, SfC and 21 international institutional investors called on the Federal Council and Parliament to strengthen due diligence obligations in the areas of human rights and the environment for Swiss companies. 
Human rights and environmental due diligence is good for companies, investors and the economy. Their regulation makes companies’ risk management processes more robust, creates transparency and resilience and enables investors to make better investment decisions. 
There is currently a large gap between the applicable provisions in Switzerland and those of the EU. In the past, the Federal Council has spoken out in favour of an internationally coordinated approach in line with EU developments. The due diligence obligations should be compatible with the EU rules in order to achieve the necessary legal certainty. 

Photo: Christian Wasserfallen, Pexels