21.01.2025

Volunteers collect 183,661 signatures in 14 days

In a very short time, more than 10,000 volunteers from all over the country have collected the signatures for the new Responsible Business Initiative (RBI). The record number of signatures underscores the strong support for the popular initiative among the population.

A broad committee of politicians from all camps, as well as entrepreneurs and representatives of civil society, launched the new corporate responsibility initiative on 7 January 2025. This initiative obliges corporations such as Glencore to respect human rights and environmental regulations across their business.

Volunteers organised over 1,000 signature collection events in the streets in mid-January to collect the necessary signatures in the shortest possible time. In just 14 days, 183,661 signatures were collected, which are now being certified.

‘I have never seen a cause for which so many people have dedicated their free time,’ commented member of the National Council and the initiative committee Stefan Müller-Altermatt (Christian democratic Center party). ‘Over the past two weeks, we have seen signature collections in the streets everywhere – in cities and in the countryside. The fact that 183,661 signatures were collected in just 14 days is spectacular! This clearly shows how strong the support for the Responsible Business Initiative is among the population.”

Switzerland soon to be the only country without corporate accountability

In 2020, opponents of the Responsible Business Initiative warned that Switzerland would introduce ‘uniquely strict liability rules’. The Federal Council promised to act in an ‘internationally coordinated’ manner and to strive for a ‘level playing field’ for companies in Switzerland and the EU.

But although various European countries, such as Germany and Norway, have since introduced sustainability due diligence laws and the European Union adopted a Sustainability Due  Diligence Directive in spring 2024, the discussion in Switzerland is not making sufficient progress.

Current scandals demonstrate the need for action

To date, multinational companies based in Switzerland have repeatedly violated human rights and fundamental environmental regulations: Whether it is a Glencore mine in Peru poisoning an entire region, gold refineries such as MKS Pamp importing problematic gold into Switzerland, the Geneva-based metal trading company IXM leaving around 300,000 tonnes of highly toxic waste in Namibia, or certain chocolate companies that to this day profit from child labour.

What is a popular initiative?

If Swiss citizens want to change the constitution, they can launch an initiative. For an initiative to come to fruition, it must be signed by 100,000 voters within 18 months. The initiative will then be put to a vote, unless the initiative committee withdraws it. If a majority of voters and a majority of the cantons vote in favour of the initiative, the Constitution will be amended. More background: ch.ch (Platform by the Swiss government)

Wasn’t there such an initiative already in Switzerland?

Indeed, a first popular initiative for mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence was adopted by a majority of voters in 2020, but missed the majority of the cantons. More background in our timeline in German | French | Italian


The new Responsible Business Initiative will put a stop to such business practices.