Finnwatch resigns from Finnish corporate responsibility advisory board

The non-governmental organization Finnwatch has resigned from the National Advisory Board on Corporate Social Responsibility (YHVA), which operates under the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. After more than 15 years of membership, the organization stated that the board is unable to fulfill its duties in its current form.

Finnwatch Executive Director Sonja Finér cited several reasons for the departure, including long-standing issues with under-resourcing and a failure to respect OECD guidelines. The organization noted that the board has never issued a single adverse decision against a company in its history.

Finér specifically highlighted a recent decision regarding tax planning practices promoted by the consultancy firm KPMG. The board concluded that companies are not required to follow responsibility practices beyond legal requirements and standard official processes. Finnwatch argued that accepting such a stance would render the OECD corporate responsibility guidelines “unnecessary and empty.”