| Summary of the case |
Sherpa, CED, FOCARFE and MISEREOR allege that the Société Camerounaise de Palmeraiess (SOCAPALM), a Cameroonian producer of palm oil, has negatively impacted the traditional livelihoods of local communities and plantation workers. The expansion of SOCAPALMs operations has allegedly diminished the size of local communities and the availability of public services and natural resources. Water and air pollution are not adequately treated, causing problems for both the communities and the environment. Moreover, local villagers have reported physical abuse by SOCAPALMs security agent Africa Security.
The complainants also allege that SOCAPALMs treatment of plantation workers constitutes a breach of the Guidelines. They claim that precarious work is rampant, and freedom of association is limited. Additionally, the housing facilities are deplorable, and dividends promised to employees when SOCAPALM was privatised in 2000 were never paid. The complaint also claims that SOCAPALM has breached the Guidelines disclosure chapter by failing to properly disclose relevant information about the company and potential environmental risks.
The French, Belgian and Luxembourgian holding companies Bolloré, Financière du champ de Mars, SOCFINAL and Intercultures exert joint control over SOCAPALMs operations in Cameroon through complex financial investments. The complainants allege that these companies have breached the OECD Guidelines by failing to take action to prevent SOCAPALMs negative impact on the environment, local communities and workers.
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