Home Complaints database CCFD et. al. vs MICHELIN
Complaint

CCFD et. al. vs MICHELIN

Multiple violations in construction MICHELIN plant in India

Date filed
10 July 2012
Keywords
Countries of harm
Current status
Withdrawn
Sector
NCP

Allegations

In November 2009, the French company Michelin acquired lands near the Thervoy village from the Tamil Nadu Government and started building the largest tyre factory in India. The complaint alleges that the land was sold to Michelin by local authorities without any prior consultation with the local villagers, a mainly Dalit community who has been living there for over two hundred years. Furthermore, a village near the site is inhabited by indigenous people of Irula ethnicity. The villagers were not consulted nor was their right of free, prior and informed consent respected. Moreover, civil movements objecting to the factory have been severely repressed.

The development of the area around the village has caused the destruction of 450 hectare-collective forest that hosted agricultural and pastoral activities, thus depriving the local people of their main means of livelihood. Eighteen other villages are also directly impacted by the construction of the infrastructure associated with the factors. The complainants furthermore allege that the factory is likely to cause water pollution and have a negative impact on local peoples health.

Despite numerous requests by CCFD-Terre Solidaires that Michelin suspend construction on the factory until appropriate impact studies and consultations with affected stakeholders are conducted, Michelin has carried on the work in the name of the project economic benefit. The complainants now turn to the French NCP to intervene to ensure that Michelin changes its behaviour in accordance with the OECD Guidelines.

Relevant OECD Guidelines

Outcome

One year after the complaint was filed, the complainants withdrew the complaint in September 2013, just before the NCP issued its final statement on the case. In its statement, the French NCP
recognized that the impact studies conducted by Michelin were insufficient and that the project had had adverse impacts on local stakeholders. However, the NCP did not believe that the
company had violated the OECDGuidelines.

According to the complainants, who were severely disappointed with the French NCP, serious deficiencies in the French NCP’s procedures and handling of the case led them to withdraw the
case. The complainants are calling for institutional reforms of the NCP to improve its performance and meet its international commitments.

In May 2014 the NCP issued a follow-up statement on the case in which it recognised that MICHELIN has taken a series of measures to implement the recommendations proposed by the NCP in its final stastement. The NCP ceased monitoring of the case in February 2016 after MICHELIN has satisfactorily followed up on all the NCP recommendations proposed.

More details

Defendant
Company in violation
Complainants
Affected people
Date rejected / concluded
24 September 2013

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