New York, NY, March 25, 2024—The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) welcomes the release of the U.S. National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct (NAP). USCIB also encourages other governments around the world to implement their own NAPs to ensure that progress on human rights remains a global priority.
Simultaneously, and as a key deliverable to the NAP, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a $2M grant to the International Labour Organization, to strengthen global social compliance systems and to combat forced labor in supply chains.
USCIB has been providing consultations on the NAP since 2015 and hosted the first public consultation alongside global partners and other major business organizations. Also, in 2022, USCIB submitted comprehensive comments for the 2024 NAP version and organized a briefing for members with the State Department.
“When done well, NAPs can help companies implement their responsibility to respect human rights, both within their own operations and those of their business partners,” said Ewa Staworzynska, USCIB director for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs.
The U.S. State Department will host an event on March 25, titled “U.S. Leadership on Responsible Business: The Launch of the U.S. Government’s National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct.” The event will feature discussions around key priorities addressed in the NAP, including strengthening access to remedy and protecting workers’ rights, as well as a discussion on government approaches to strengthening business respect for human rights and responsible business conduct more broadly. USCIB President and CEO Whitney Baird will be on a panel during the event, joining representatives from Oxfam, DHS and Simpson Thacher.
The launch event will feature keynote remarks by Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose Fernandez. It will also include a panel discussion with other U.S. senior officials from across government, including from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Treasury, Department of Labor, Department of State, and other stakeholders involved in the NAP process.
About USCIB:
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development, and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence. Its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world. As the U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce, the International Organization of Employers and Business at OECD (BIAC), USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org.