On 29 November, Switzerland will hold a nationwide referendum on the “Responsible Business Initiative”. A vote in favour of the initiative will make swiss multinational companies legally accountable for their environmental and human rights violations abroad. This includes violations committed by LafargeHolcim, the swiss company operating cement factories and quarries in Lebanon.

LafargeHolcim is one of the three companies dominating the cement industry in Lebanon. These companies behave as a typical corporate cartel with strong political ties to corrupt political powers, taking advantage of the weakened public governance.

Since it started working in Lebanon, the operations of the LafargeHolcim have expanded without any control, ignoring health and environmental standards. It secured extra privileges through illegal operations, including quarrying in non-permitted zones, trespassing environmental regulations, occupying maritime public property, and other illegalities. The company’s activity resulted in the decline of agriculture and maritime activity, the degradation of ecosystems, and the deterioration of the residents’ health.

In 2015, LafargeHolcim controlled 38% of the sector. Today, it excavates a quarry that illegally spreads over 1.4 million sqm of land zoned as residential, despite objections from municipalities, environmental activists, lawyers and urbanists.

As such, the Swiss citizens and decision makers are invited to hold LafargeHolcim liable for its illegal and environmentally destructive operations in Lebanon. Voting in favor of the “Responsible Business Initiative” will hopefully push all swiss multinational companies to adhere to internationally recognized human rights and environmental standards.

For additional information, please check this article by Public Works Studio: https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/38475