Angelika Hellweger explains the responsibilities being placed on companies by human rights legislation

As various jurisdictions have passed or are considering passing legislation compelling companies to meet human rights obligations, Angelika Hellweger wrote about the implications for business.

In a piece published by Law360, Angelika outlines the scale of forced labour and the pressure on companies to provide ethically-produced products.

While some companies may have preferred to overstate their human rights credentials rather than investigate and address any problems in their supply chain, Angelika explains that such an approach is not only unethical – it can also lead to serious legal difficulties. Fines, orders and exclusion from government procurement contracts can result from such a course of action, as can consumer and class-action legal claims and criminal prosecution.

Her article summarises the most notable legislation regarding companies’ obligations to report on the environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact of their activities; including the effect on human rights.  She also explains the requirements being placed on companies by some stock exchanges.

Angelika concludes her article with a list of recommendations for corporates that will help them avoid failing to meet their human rights obligations.

You can read Angelika's full article by visiting Law360. (Subscription required)