US

Outcome 1.1: Promoting RBC Globally

New Actions [page 8]

“OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises: For the first time, in 2016 the U.S. National Contact Point (USNCP) for the OECD Guidelines published an annual report and in 2017 will develop an outreach plan to continue its efforts to broaden understanding and implementation of the OECD Guidelines among business. The USNCP will help organize two workshops related to the OECD’s work.” – Implementing Department or Agency: State

“UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: In addition to funding efforts that promote awareness and implementation of the UN Guiding Principles, the U.S. government, through State, will continue to disseminate the UN Guiding Principles through our bilateral, multilateral, and public diplomacy efforts. State will continue to participate in and host discussions with companies, civil society groups, and others on these Guiding Principles, including through its on-going UN Guiding Principles Workshop Series. The most recent workshop in the series focused on the relevance of human rights and the application of the UN Guiding Principles framework to the selection of sites, preparations for, and activities related to large-scale, global sporting events.” – Implementing Department or Agency: State

Outcome 1.3: Leverage U.S. Government Purchasing Power to Promote High Standards

New Actions [page 10-11]

“Research and Tools on Preventing Trafficking in Global Supply Chains: The State Department funded research on “Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in Federal and Corporate Supply Chains” to develop a set of online tools and resources to help federal contractors and corporations analyze, prevent, and address human trafficking risks in their global supply chains. In 2016, State and nongovernmental organizations launched ResponsibleSourcingTool.org. This online platform focuses on the sectors and commodities at greatest risk for trafficking and provides guidance on developing effective management systems. State anticipates funding the development of additional sector-specific tools and the maintenance of the site over the next five years. In addition, DOL is funding research on forced labor in specific industries’ global supply chains and an ILO-led Global Business Network on Forced Labor.” – Implementing Department or Agency: State, DOL

Ongoing Commitments and Initiatives [page 11-12]

““Strengthening Protections against Trafficking in Persons in Federal Contracts,” (E.O. 13627), signed on September 25, 2012, and its associated regulatory changes, created new prohibitions on trafficking and trafficking-related activities in federal supply chains that are designed to help identify and prevent human trafficking in global supply chains. On December 8, 2016, the U.S. government published draft guidance on anti-trafficking risk management best practices and mitigation considerations for public comment. This guidance is designed to help an agency determine if a contractor is taking adequate steps to meet its anti-trafficking responsibilities under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the FAR Council’s regulations implementing E.O. 13627 and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. This guidance, coordinated by OMB in partnership with DOL and State, and other agencies, will assist agencies in developing appropriate internal procedures and controls for awarding and administering Federal contracts to improve monitoring of and compliance with actions to prevent human trafficking. In addition, the Council intends to amend the regulations to provide a definition for “recruitment fees,” which is a critical component to help prevent trafficking in federal supply chains.” – Implementing Department or Agency: OMB, State, DOL

Outcome 1.4: Conducting Due Diligence in U.S. Development Funding and Trade Finance

New Actions [page 12]

“Social Safeguards for U.S. Development Assistance: USAID will develop a social safeguards screening questionnaire that Missions may use as an assessment tool when designing new projects (including public-private partnerships) to ensure due diligence on social and human rights issues. USAID will also establish a resource library of tools and human resources that can be deployed for various social analyses; conduct a gap analysis to identify topics not addressed by current guidance; convene stakeholder consultations regarding recommendations for future guidance or policies; and pilot the social safeguards assessment tool with interested USAID missions. These actions will be in line with international best practice, existing G-7 commitments, and safeguard policies already in place by U.S. agencies.” – Implementing Department or Agency: USAID

Outcome 3.1: U.S. Government Reports

Ongoing Commitments and Initiatives [page 18]

“Reducing Child Labor and Forced Labor: A Toolkit for Responsible Businesses: This DOL online resource, launched in December 2012, will continue to provide step-by-step guidance to businesses that seek to develop and improve social compliance systems to address child labor and forced labor in supply chains. The Toolkit is available to the public in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese and will be regularly updated based on feedback from users.” – Implementing Department or Agency: DOL

Outcome 3.1: U.S. Government Reports

Ongoing Commitments and Initiatives [page 18]

“Country Commercial Guides: Commerce will continue to include an anti-corruption section in U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service Country Commercial Guides.” – Implementing Department or Agency: State, DOJ, SEC, Commerce

 “Anti-Corruption Publications: U.S. government agencies will continue to provide information to companies through a number of U.S. and international publications designed to assist firms in complying with anti-corruption laws, including The FCPA Resource Guide.” – Implementing Department or Agency: State

Outcome 3.3: Capacity Building and Technical Support to Promote Enabling Environments

New Actions [page 19]

“Responsible Land-Based Investment: USAID will support responsible land-based investment by helping the private sector pilot the Analytical Framework for Land-Based Investments in African Agriculture, which are internationally accepted guidance that helps companies mitigate land tenure risks and make their investments more inclusive, responsible, and sustainable. This commitment will provide limited financial assistance, as well as technical assistance, to help first mover companies implement the guidance and make their investments more responsible and inclusive of local communities, including indigenous peoples. USAID will coordinate closely with other G-7 governments and the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition.” – Implementing Department or Agency: USAID

Outcome 3.3: Capacity Building and Technical Support to Promote Enabling Environments

Ongoing Commitments and Initiatives [page 20-21]

“Dodd-Frank Section 1502: …. State will continue to provide guidance to help companies ensure that their products and their suppliers’ products do not directly or indirectly finance armed conflict or result in labor or human rights violations. …” – Implementing Department or Agency: State, USAID, SEC, Commerce, USGS

“Eliminating Child and Forced Labor in Agricultural Supply Chains: In 2011, USDA, DOL, and State released the Guidelines for Eliminating Child and Forced Labor in Agricultural Supply Chains, developed as part of a multi-stakeholder process that included high-level officials of these agencies, representatives of business, civil society, and academics. The Guidelines’ specific elements should be integrated into any agricultural company program to reduce child or forced labor, and include adhering to ILO standards on child labor and forced labor; mapping supply chains and conducting risk assessments; providing communication and monitoring mechanisms; and developing plans and programs for remediating violations. DOL is now funding a four-year pilot project in Turkey to test implementation of the above Guidelines by a leading company.” – Implementing Department or Agency: USDA, DOL, State

Outcome 5.1: Exploring and Enhancing Platforms for Remedy

New Actions [page 23]

“Consulting with Stakeholders on Remedy: The United States will host stakeholder outreach and explore with one or more U.S. advisory committee(s) as to how the U.S. government can work with U.S. companies to help address concerns about the perceived lack of accessible and effective remedy available to those who feel they have been negatively impacted by U.S. business conduct abroad. As part of this consultation, the United States will solicit advice on how best it could support access to remedy, including the potential development of tools or guidance related to non-government-based mechanisms that would assist U.S. businesses that wish to improve their own individual and collaborative efforts to address this challenge.” – Implementing Department or Agency: State