NGO's

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Organisations active in India


Amsterdam
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Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations
Stichting Onderzoek Multinationale Ondernemingen (Somo)
Keizersgracht 132
1015 CW Amsterdam
Tel:020 - 639 12 91
Fax:020 - 639 13 21
Email:info@somo.nl
Web:www.somo.nl

Postal address
Postbus 1968
1000 BZ Amsterdam

SOMO, or the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations, is a Dutch research and advisory bureau that, since 1973, has been investigating the consequences of corporate policies of Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) and the consequences of the internationalisation of business for developing countries in particular.

SOMO's field of expertise includes international guidelines, international treaties, and codes of conduct for MNEs, and the implementation of these norms in practice. We specifically specialise in research on labour conditions in developing countries, in cooperation with local organisations and labour unions.

SOMO is part of the civil society of the Netherlands. SOMO fulfils its ‘watchdog’ function by doing research for client civil society organisations which promote a certain interest, such as:
  • development organisations
  • environmental organisations
  • fair trade organisations
  • consumer organisations
  • co-financing organisations
  • human rights organisations
SOMO provides these organisations with reliable information and analyses on Multinational Enterprises, and on the sectors, the countries and the structures of trade agreements in which these MNEs operate.

This way, SOMO contributes to the success of campaigns and processes which are aimed at promoting the interests of employees and other stakeholders in the global South, and to sustainable poverty eradication.

Assignments that SOMO receives for doing company research can range from short database research to in-depth research on the policies and conduct of Multinational Enterprises in developing countries.

The services provided by SOMO vary from (online) literature research to investigations about labour conditions on production sites in countries from the global South. This latter kind of research is usually conducted in cooperation with a research partner from the South.

SOMO has published several reports relating to India. A few of them are:
  • Labour Conditions in Ikea’s supply chain, Case studies in
    India, Bulgeria and Vietnam.
  • The reality behind the code Vendex KBB
  • Sector study garments industry - assessing the extant of
    working with CSR issues(Gsus's has production facilities also in India.
  • The reality behind the code
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