OECD Releases 2026 Responsible Business Outlook: Commitments Rising Fast, Implementation Still Lags
On 30 June 2026, marking the 50th anniversary of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct (MNE Guidelines), the OECD released its first global assessment of responsible business conduct practices among the 10,000 largest listed companies worldwide and government policies across 52 countries.
On the report’s scope: Vietnam is not among the 52 countries adhering to the MNE Guidelines, but Vietnamese businesses — particularly in textiles and garments, footwear, electronics, wood and furniture, and seafood — are an important link (commonly as tier-1, tier-2 or tier-3 suppliers) in the supply chains of many of the 10,000 companies covered.[1]
Key findings
The report analyses publicly disclosed information from the 10,000 largest listed companies globally (96% of global market capitalisation) and policies across the 52 countries adhering to the MNE Guidelines. Its central message: commitments to responsible business conduct are spreading fast, but meaningful implementation — especially in supply chains — still lags well behind what companies pledge on paper.[1]
Half a century of the OECD framework for responsible business conduct
The report was released on the 50th anniversary of the MNE Guidelines — the leading international standard for how companies and investors should address their impacts on people, the environment and society.[1]
The OECD first issues the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (MNE Guidelines).
A major update places risk-based due diligence at the centre of the Guidelines.
The OECD issues the Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct — a six-step framework for companies.
The MNE Guidelines are updated again, expanding coverage to climate and technology.
Release of the OECD Responsible Business Outlook 2026 — the first global assessment of responsible business conduct practice, marking the 50th anniversary of the MNE Guidelines.[1][2]
Commitments are widespread — but concrete action still lags
Commitments related to anti-corruption and greenhouse gas emissions are most common, followed by forced labour, child labour and human rights. Less than half of large listed companies disclose commitments to freedom of association, and only a quarter to biodiversity.[1]
Most notable points in the implementation gap
- Policies outpace action: companies report far more on policies and management systems (45% of all practices surveyed) than on measures that actually address impacts (less than 20%).[1]
- Weak supplier risk evaluation: around 50% of companies have environmental/social criteria for selecting suppliers, but fewer than 20% actually evaluate supplier risk against those criteria.[1]
- Multi-tier supply chains lack transparency: about 70% of companies report social audit coverage of tier-1 suppliers, but only around 35% extend to tier-2/3.[1]
- Human rights is the weakest area: only 8% engage stakeholders on human rights, 17% have a formal grievance mechanism, and 10% commit to remedy for affected people.[1]
The biggest gap sits in the supply chain
Tier-2, tier-3 suppliers and beyond — where the greatest labour and environmental risks tend to be concentrated, especially in manufacturing and export economies — are precisely where buyers have the least visibility.[1]
| Due diligence indicator | Share of companies reporting |
|---|---|
| Environmental/social criteria for selecting suppliers | ~50% |
| Evaluating supplier risk against those criteria | Under 20% |
| Training or collaborating with suppliers to improve | 25% |
| Integrating social supply-chain policy into purchasing | 7% |
| Disclosing health & safety improvements in the supply chain | Under 5% |
| Audit coverage of tier-1 suppliers | ~70% |
| Audit coverage of tier-2/3 suppliers | ~35% |
Why does this gap exist?
- Companies lack visibility and leverage over suppliers further up the chain (tier-2, tier-3 and beyond).
- Barriers to collecting, verifying and sharing information, due to limited capacity as well as data protection, national security or on-the-ground access restrictions.
- Weak incentives: many social and environmental impacts are not yet treated as financially material risks by capital markets.
- Legal and reputational risk associated with disclosing granular detail on salient human rights issues discourages more transparent reporting.
Governments are moving toward mandatory due diligence
Eighty-four per cent of OECD Member countries and 67% of countries adhering to the MNE Guidelines have introduced due diligence-related regulation, covering approximately 55% of global GDP. Since 2020, 67 of 186 trade and investment agreements (36%) signed by countries adhering to the MNE Guidelines include an RBC clause — 73% signed with non-adhering countries. This is a trend Vietnamese exporters should track closely, as newer-generation FTAs increasingly tie sustainable development chapters to international due diligence standards.[1]
What this means for manufacturing businesses in Vietnam
As multinational buyers are pushed to extend due diligence deeper into their supply chains to meet OECD expectations, EU regulation (such as EUFLR and CSDDD) and investor demands, manufacturing suppliers in Vietnam will increasingly be asked for concrete evidence of labour, environmental and supply-chain transparency practices — not just signed commitments. The “strong tier-1, weak tier-2/3” gap the report identifies is also an opportunity for suppliers to proactively differentiate themselves.
Recommended actions for manufacturing businesses in Vietnam
Assess your position in the supply chain
Identify whether you sit at tier-1, tier-2 or tier-3 for each international buyer, and how much visibility currently exists into that position.
Build up your management system for compliance to labour and environmental standards
Documentation on labour practices, occupational health and safety, and environmental performance needs verifiable data and records.
Build a grievance mechanism for workers
Meet growing expectations from international buyers on formal grievance channels.
Proactively engage buyers and importers
Understand what information they may need as due diligence expands, particularly for the EU market and FTA markets with sustainable development chapters.
Review how sub-suppliers are selected and monitored
Avoid becoming the weak link if your business also runs its own supply chain.
RBV Supports Businesses in Advancing Responsible Business Conduct and Sustainable Integration
Drawing on experience in labour compliance and responsible business conduct across global supply chains, RBV helps manufacturing businesses in Vietnam assess gaps, build due diligence systems aligned with international standards, and support businesses to thrive in the global supply chains.
References
- OECD (2026), OECD Responsible Business Outlook 2026: Making Commitments Count, OECD Publishing, Paris: doi.org/10.1787/2b15370f-en
- OECD, Press release, 1 July 2026, “Large companies need to turn commitments to responsible business conduct into action”: oecd.org
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Figures are drawn from the original OECD report.