Swiss to vote on responsible supply chain initiative

ZURICH – Switzerland has announced it will hold a nationwide referendum at the end of November on the Responsible Business Initiative, a key part of which will make companies headquartered in Switzerland legally responsible for what happens in their supply chains. A yes vote for the initiative – which multi-nationals are inevitably lobbying against – has ramifications for apparel brands based in Switzerland. A positive vote could also open the door to similar initiatives gaining more traction across Europe.

The RBI is part of a wave of similar legislation being proposed in other countries, based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.