NCP Belgium

NCP does not allow companies to remain anonymous when a complaint is filed and/or has a commitment not to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP allows complainants to withhold their identity from the company for security reasons, and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP offers guidance in both national language(s) and English on how to file complaints.

NCP follows the expected timeline for each stage of the complaint-handling procedure and communicates punctually with all complaint parties over the status of the complaint, including any reasonable delays, and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP website contains a permanent record of every complaint received by the NCP, including parties to the complaint, the issue(s) addressed, and the status of the complaint.

NCP prevents or addresses potential or perceived conflicts of interest of any person playing a role for the NCP in the complaint and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP recommends consequences from its government for companies that engage in bad faith in the proceedings or fail to implement agreements reached, and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP clarifies how it will engage with other NCPs in relation to the handling of complaints, including explaining when complaints may be jointly handled or transferred to other NCPs.

NCP makes determinations in its final statements when no agreement is reached explaining how the company has (not) observed specific provisions of the Guidelines, and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP ensures a low threshold to assess whether the issue is material and substantiated and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP ensures it has access to and, where relevant, uses investigative resources and broad external subject-matter expertise to support its complaint handling functions, and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP always engages in follow-up and publishes follow-up statements where relevant, and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP plays a guiding role in mediation, ensuring agreements reached further the implementation of the Guidelines and address past harms.

NCP accepts complaints in national language(s) and English and covers the cost of translation of key filings and statements and interpretation during mediation, and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP holds mediation in the most accessible manner for complainants and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP works to accept complaints despite parallel proceedings and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP provides an external review process for parties to pursue if they believe the NCP has not followed its internal procedures.

NCP consults parties on and publishes a final statement that includes the basic information required after the case reaches that stage, and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP website shows the initial assessment for every complaint received which is published after the initial assessment stage is concluded, and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP makes recommendations in its final statements on specific company action needed to support remediation of past harm and/or observe the Guidelines in future, and/or the NCP has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP proclaims zero tolerance for reprisals against the NCP and implements measures to respond to (risks of) reprisals, and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP proclaims zero tolerance for reprisals against complainants and assesses and implements measures to prevent and respond to (risks of) reprisals, and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP supports transparency between the parties in the complaint process generally, including by the sharing of all relevant facts and arguments brought forward by each party during the proceedings with other parties, requiring confidentiality only over the personal identities of parties for security/privacy reasons or legitimately sensitive business information, and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP supports transparency during the complaint process by allowing complainants to publish their own complaint and communicate about the stages of the process. The NCP requires confidentiality only over the personal identities of parties for security/privacy reasons, legitimately sensitive business information, and documents shared and discussions had during the mediation stage, and/or has a commitment to do so in its case-handling procedures.

NCP is led or overseen by senior officials that are actively engaged with the NCP’s work.

NCP employs two or more full-time staff that hold permanent (non-rotating and not short-term) positions.

NCP has a multi-stakeholder advisory body involving all three core stakeholder groups (NGOs, labour unions/workers organisations, businesses). The advisory body is meaningfully consulted by the NCP on its promotional and complaint-handling activities at least 2 times a year.

NCP structure ensures all three core stakeholder groups (NGOs, labour unions/workers organisations, businesses) at minimum advise on individual complaints.

NCP supports its government in developing, implementing, and fostering policies, programmes, and/or laws on responsible business conduct that are coherent with the Guidelines.