COLLABORATING PARTNER SESSION

18 September | 13:15-14:15 ICT

Business Caucus: Focus on Employers’ Experience and Lessons on Responsible Exit in the Asia-Pacific Region

Organized by:

International Organisation of Employers

Background

As the largest private sector network in the work, the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) is actively engaged in the most important international forums to provide a vital business perspective to the many activities and initiatives that seek to advance the Business and Human Rights and Responsible Business Conduct agenda.

As part of the 2025 UNRBHR and the theme "Anchoring Progress and Strengthening Regional Leadership on Human Rights through Crisis" taking place from 16-19 September 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand, IOE is delighted to invite business representatives to its dedicated two-hour Business Caucus session. This safe space discussion is exclusively designed for business representative only, including companies and Employers and Business Membership Organisations (EBMOs) to discuss key issues related to human rights and responsible business conduct in the Asia-Pacific region.

At a time when geopolitical tension and economic disruptions are reshaping the business environment, companies face increasing pressure to decide whether and how to disengage responsibly from certain contexts. These decisions can have far-reaching human rights, social and economic impacts. This session will focus on employer-led experiences and strategies for responsible exit, drawing lessons from Asia-Pacific and highlighting how employer organisations can support their members through such complex transitions.

Objectives

As a business representative, join this session to benefit from:

A safe space for business practitioners to candidly share perspectives on the UNGP’s implementation and how responsible exit decisions are being managed across the Asia-Pacific region.
An exchange on successes, challenges and lessons learned to company’s experience on responsible exit.
Employer-led insights on aligning disengagement strategies with BHR standards, preventing and/or mitigating adverse human rights impacts.

Guiding Questions and Format

The Business Caucus will take the form of interactive panel discussions with room for Q&A and reactions from participants. The session will begin with welcoming remarks by IOE, followed by a business-only discussion on lessons learned from company’s experiences on responsible exit. A second section will feature an open discussion with the Chair of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Ms Pichamon Yeophantong (TBC), focusing on what are the element to consider for a successful exit.

Guiding questions to the panellists and audience are:

Which enabling measures (tools, protocols, coordination platforms) best support
responsible exit?
How should grievance mechanisms be linked to exit planning and overall HRDD?
What lessons have emerged from implementing such mechanisms?
When and how do you consult with relevant stakeholders, including workers and affected communities?
How have recent regulatory developments influenced approaches to exit and grievance mechanisms?