Corporate Responsability with Multinationals

Topic B: Corporate Social Responsibility Towards Workers and Communities
Multinational corporations have installed themselves in Latin American since the 1990s, causing a great deal of issues for governments and workers. Most countries that have opened themselves to foreign investment have been forced to deal with threats to basic civil rights. Workers have been exploited by these multinational giants, often punished unjustly for doing what they are rightfully entitled to, such as organizing trade unions. Venezuela has not had to deal with these problems, especially since large industries in the country have been nationalized by President Hugo Chavez. The main ideas promoted by the Venezuelan government are, “an emphasis on the importance of education, the creation of civilian-military unity, Latin American integration, social justice, and national sovereignty.” It therefore becomes clear that the installation of such corporations would contradict with the values that the country is ruled by.
Foreign investors would take advantage of natural resources, and cause various problems to society. The 1999 Venezuelan constitution increased protection to indigenous people and women, all of which would crumble at the hands of these MNEs and their recent conduct. The goal of the Pan American Development Foundation is to “empower disadvantaged people and communities in Latin America and the Caribbean to achieve sustainable economic and social progress, strengthen their communities and civil society.” However Latin American nations have often been the target of already developed countries, dating back to their own colonization and the system that was put in place. Often forced to supply the needs of the more powerful, they have been exploited to their roots, and the people forced to pay with their lives.
Venezuela refuses to allow such relation to continue. There is a list of countries that have submitted themselves to such treatment – Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador,...