EuroCham Myanmar Hosts Session on Heightened Human Rights Due Diligence: “Navigating the Shift from Soft Law to Hard Law”
On November 14th, EuroCham Myanmar, in partnership with Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business and Yever, organized a session titled “From Soft Law to Hard Law: What Companies Operating in Myanmar Need to Know about HHRDD”. This event was part of our ongoing webinar series, “Heightened Due Diligence Myanmar: Guidance for Business,” by EuroCham Myanmar and the MCRB, offering comprehensive guidance to international businesses on responsible business conduct in Myanmar’s unique operational landscape.
During the session, Vicky Bowman presented an update on EU Directives and Regulations relating to human rights due diligence, such as EU CSRD, EU CSDDD, and EU Forced Labor Regulation. She emphasized the importance of viewing due diligence as an ongoing process and stressed the need for disaggregating reporting regarding material impacts, risks, and opportunities by country or significant asset level. She also shared some examples from EuroCham Myanmar members, where this is being implemented.
💡The concept of heightened human rights due diligence is familiar to companies operating in Myanmar. In his presentation, Nicolas Delange from Yever shared insights on his work, supporting companies on the HHRDD journey. He highlighted the importance of open, daring communication within the company and towards its stakeholders regarding risks and its impact on people. He presented some tools available for companies, such as ACLED data (link: https://acleddata.com/). Several Japanese companies joined the session, underscoring EuroCham Myanmar’s commitment to fostering partnerships with like-minded companies and organizations.
💡 EuroCham Myanmar stands by its position that responsible business conduct is possible in Myanmar. As its CEO, Karina Ufert, recently stated (link: https://lnkd.in/g4yDxk2z), we see brands/ companies responding to challenges in the operating environment by strengthening their social and environmental responsibility efforts, maintaining engagement with trade unions and labour organizations, and participating in initiatives such as MADE in Myanmar, which currently covers more than 150 supplier factories <…> positive change can only be achieved through sustained engagement and close collaboration with all stakeholders on the ground, particularly labor representatives, who continue playing a vital role in improving working conditions.
EuroCham Myanmar, together with its partners, will continue supporting its 169 members through regular, fact-based information, consultations, thematic briefings, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy to enable responsible business conduct. Please reach out to learn more about our work (business.development@eurocham-myanmar.org).