A petition to hold Swiss-based companies liable for human rights abuses and environmental violations in operations anywhere, even outside the country, is headed for a referendum as early as November. Promoters of the Responsible Business Initiative were prepared to withdraw the petition if Parliament came up with an acceptable alternative. But a counter-proposal approved by lawmakers this week is way too weak, says Andreas Missbach of Public Eye, one of the groups behind the original plan. He says there is “no chance” the initiative will be withdrawn, giving Swiss voters final say over which version prevails.
