Around half of the 50 largest companies in the Irish economy scored 30% or less in the latest Irish business and human rights benchmark report published by the Trinity Centre for Social Innovation.
The research assesses the human rights performance of 50 of the largest publicly listed companies operating in Ireland and ten of the largest semi-states, using internationally recognised human rights benchmarking methodology.
The report analysed data from 2022 and 2023, examining firms’ human rights policies, due diligence and access to remedies based on publicly available documents produced by the companies.
Researchers said it provides a transparent measure of a firm’s disclosure of their approach to human rights.
The report found that corporate uptake of the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) remains a work in progress, with 52% of companies assessed scoring 30% or less, 86% of the top 50 sample scoring less than 50%, and 32% scoring below 20%.
However, despite stricter criteria six companies, Adobe, DCC, Electricity Supply Board, Experian, Meta and AIB, all increased their score by five points or more on the last benchmarking report, which was conducted in 2020.
“The 2023 edition of the Irish Business and Human Rights benchmark report is a wake-up call to Irish industry and government to attend to the vital work of incorporating the UN Guiding Principles for Business & Human Rights into their policies and practices,” said Professor ML Rhodes, co-Director of the Trinity Centre for Social Innovation and one of the authors of the report.
“With EU legislation coming soon that will require firms to up their performance in this area, this report should be required reading for Irish-based executives and policy makers in 2024,” Prof Rhodes said.
The report will be launched this evening by Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney.
“While I note there has been progress by some companies which shows it is feasible to make positive changes, I recognise that more needs to be done to ensure more businesses understand the importance of protecting human rights,” Mr Coveney said.
“The Government is in the process of developing a second National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.”
“This second plan will build on the achievements of the first plan and play a pivotal role helping to guide businesses to understand their human rights responsibilities,” he added.
