Collaboration on joint activities in monitoring, training programmes and global reviews As outlined above, if MNEs are directly linked to adverse human rights impacts through their busi- ness relationships (GP 13 (b)), they have the responsibility under the UNGP to exert their influence to mitigate the effects to the greatest extent possible (OHCHR, 2012). The UNGP use the term “lever- age” to describe how far a MNE is able to influence companies in its global supply chain. This refers to the question of what a company can reasonably do to address an adverse human rights impact (OHCHR, 2014, p. 29). Leverage is considered to exist where an MNE has the ability to effect change in the wrongful behaviour of a supplier or subcontractor. Whenever an MNE has the leverage to pre- vent or mitigate an adverse impact, it should exercise it. If it lacks leverage, it is supposed to increase it. The commentary on GP 19 advices companies to increase its leverage by “offering capacity- building measures (…)” (OHCHR, 2014, p. 21). As discussed in Chapter 3, some GFAs include the obligation of the MNE to support a learn- ing process in supplying companies to help them meet the standards set out in the agreement. These provisions can include collaborating on training programmes for management and workers concerned, or general support for small and medium-sized suppliers and subcontractors. GP 19 indicates that provisions in GFAs affirming the human rights responsibilities of the MNE should be accompanied by training programmes to ensure the implementation of the agreement along the global supply chain. The responsibility of MNEs to increase its leverage at suppliers and subcontractors and to involve relevant stakeholders – e.g. GUFs and local trade unions – should be better integrated into the texts of GFAs. This can in turn improve a company’s ability to identify and address decent work deficits in its global supply chain. The establishment of continuous consultation meetings and sound labour rela- tions can help to identify human rights abuses at suppliers and subcontractors and to track the effec- tiveness of responses.16 As we have seen, in order to identify and monitor human rights risks most effectively, access to information about companies in the supply chain is crucial for trade unions, yet few GFAs contain provisions on an MNE’s disclosure of companies in its GSC. Strengthening the access to information can help to increase the leverage over suppliers and subcontractors and to iden- tify violations of core labour standards in the supply chain...
