Responsible Business Initiative
1112-en RE420 Company Law As of 11.07.2026
The Responsible Business Initiative demanded liability of Swiss companies for human rights violations and environmental damage caused by their subsidiaries abroad. It was accepted by the people on 29 November 2020 but failed to obtain the majority of the cantons. The indirect counter-proposal entered into force instead: reporting duties on non-financial matters (Art. 964a et seq. CO) and due diligence duties regarding conflict minerals and child labour (Art. 964j et seq. CO), without a new liability rule.
Deutsch
Konzernverantwortungsinitiative 1112-de
Die Konzernverantwortungsinitiative verlangte eine Haftung schweizerischer Unternehmen für Menschenrechtsverletzungen und Umweltschäden ihrer Tochtergesellschaften im Ausland. Sie wurde am 29. November 2020 vom Volk angenommen, scheiterte aber am Ständemehr. In Kraft trat der indirekte Gegenvorschlag: Berichterstattungspflichten über nichtfinanzielle Belange (Art. 964a ff. OR) und Sorgfaltspflichten bezüglich Konfliktmineralien und Kinderarbeit (Art. 964j ff. OR), ohne neue Haftungsnorm.
Suggested citation
Responsible Business Initiative (1112-en), in: LAWPEDIA®-Glossar, provided by LAWCONSULT AG, www.lawconsult.ch/lawpedia/en/responsible-business-initiative, as of: 11.07.2026 [accessed on …].
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