Brazilian multinational Vale received the 2012 Public Eye People's Choice Award for world's worst company. The award was presented in Davos, Switzerland, where corporate chieftains and political leaders are meeting for the annual World Economic Forum.

Presenting the award, Nobel economics laureate Mr Joseph E Stiglitz called on multinational companies to go beyond the minimum required by the law to protect the environment, to treat workers with decency and fairness, not to exploit all the advantages that asymmetries in bargaining might afford.

More than 88,000 people around the world voted in an online competition, organized by the Berne Declaration and Greenpeace Switzerland, to choose the worst case of contempt for the environment and human rights.

Mr Leo Gerard United Steelworkers International President said that "This vote demonstrates the increasing global awareness of Vale's terrible record of destroying communities and the environment while systematically violating workers' rights."

In December 2011, the Ontario Labor Relations Board found that Vale committed unfair labor practices during a year long strike at Sudbury. On June 8th 2011, two workers were killed in Sudbury in an accident that is still under investigation.

Earlier, an Industrial Inquiry Commission appointed by the Newfoundland and Labrador government to investigate an 18 month strike at Voisey's Bay found that Vale's behavior demonstrates disrespect for the role of a bargaining agent.

Vale was nominated for the Public Eye award by Justice on the Rails, a Brazilian coalition of environmental and community groups.

Mr Gerard said that "We owe a tremendous debt to our sisters and brothers in Brazil who continue to expose this company's destructive actions."