"Making Workers Pay: Recruitment of the Migrant Labor Force in the Gulf Construction Industry", 11 Apr 2017.
[W]orkers often operate in a gray zone between home and host country protections that leave them vulnerable to exploitation, especially in the recruitment process. Some recruitment agencies charge workers exorbitant fees - in some cases an amount equal to a year's salary - to place them in construction jobs abroad...[The study] finds that construction companies operating in the Arabian Gulf are able to recruit millions of low- wage migrant workers without incurring the costs of the recruitment process. Instead...most workers themselves are paying for their own recruitment – and much more.
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New study examines the business drivers behind the exploitative recruitment of migrant labour for the Gulf construction industry
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The Impact of Conflict Mineral Laws on Global Business, Trade & Human Rights
In recent years, there has been increased focus on the trade of minerals mined in conditions of armed conflict, i.e. conflict minerals. To address this problem, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a final rule on conflict minerals, pursuant to Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act, requiring all publicly traded companies to conduct supply chain due diligence and disclose whether the products they make contain specified conflict minerals that directly or indirectly finance or benefit armed groups in certain countries.
Join us as we discuss the controversy over the Conflict Minerals Rule and its uncertain future under the current administration.
Featuring:
Hillary W. Amster, Audit Program Manager, Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative
Lucy Graham, Legal Advisor, Amnesty International's Business and Human Rights Group
Quinnie Lin, Law Clerk, International Department, Miller & Chevalier
Moderator:Elizabeth Orlando, Economic and Commercial Affairs Officer, Bureau of Economic Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Cost:Advance Registration:
Members: $15
Non-members: $25
Student Members: $15
After 4/10/2017:
Members: $20
Non-members: $30
Student Members: $20
Speaker Biographies:
Hillary Amster is the Audit Program Manager at the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI), managing the Conflict-Free Smelter Program (CFSP) on behalf of the CFSI's 350+ member companies. In addition to the audit program, Hillary leads workgroups related to conducting due diligence on the supply chain to ensure responsible sourcing of 3TG. Previously, she consulted Fortune 500 companies, advising them on the development and implementation of corporate social responsibility strategies. Hillary formerly worked at a variety of international human rights organizations, both in the United States of America and abroad. She holds a law degree with a certificate in international human rights from the University of San Francisco School of Law, and a Bachelors in Philosophy and Italian Studies from Tufts University.
Quinnie Lin is a Law Clerk* in Miller & Chevalier's International Department, where she focuses on Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (FCPA) investigations/compliance, business and human rights, and trade. During law school, Quinnie interned with FCPA prosecutors in the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division's Fraud Section. At Georgetown Law, Quinnie co-authored a report on the labor rights of domestic workers in Ghana with the results of her research in Accra as part of the International Women's Human Rights Clinic. After receiving her public policy degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Quinnie worked with staff of the former Lagos State Attorney General, Adeola Ipaye, to design and implement a survey that helped lay the groundwork for Nigeria's first witness support program. Over the last nine years, Quinnie has also carried out human rights, rule-of-law, and anti-corruption projects in Kenya and Rwanda.
*Admitted to the bar in Massachusetts. Not admitted in D.C.
Lucy Graham is a Researcher in the Business and Human Rights Team at Amnesty International in London. Lucy leads Amnesty's law and policy work on conflict minerals, including in relation to the US Dodd Frank Act, the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains and the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation. Prior to joining Amnesty International she was a corporate lawyer at Shearman & Sterling."
Elizabeth (Betsy) Orlando joined the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service as an Economic Officer in 1992. Betsy works in the Bureau of Economic Affairs in the Office of Threat Finance and Countermeasures overseeing implementation of the Kimberely Process and Dodd Frank Act on Conflict Minerals. She also covers artisanal mining issues. Betsy is from Bohemia, Long Island, New York. She is a graduate from Connetquot High School. She graduated with a B.A. from Mount Vernon College (now George Washington University) with Honors majoring in U.S. Policy and Politics and minoring in Legal Studies. She graduated with a J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law. She earned a Certificate in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) from Duke University 2012. Ms. Orlando worked at a private law firm for three years and as a mediator for the city of Akron. She was a Court Advocate for victims of violence in NY before joining U.S. Department of State.
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Report: "Avocados and stolen water"
Avocado production in Chile is draining water resources to such a degree that local residents now lack water. In the area where most of Chile’s avocados are grown, a battle is being waged over water rights. At least one supermarket chain has indicated it will change its purchasing policy for avocados from this area…A large share of the avocados in Danish supermarkets comes from Chile, one of the world’s primary exporters of avocados…When you put an avocado in your grocery basket, therefore, you risk buying a product that has exacted a steep price from local Chileans…Since the avocado plantations moved in to Petorca Province in Chile, the rivers have dried out, smallholders have lost their livelihoods, and community wells have dried up, making the locals reliant on deliveries of water by truck…Danwatch sent questionnaires to the six largest supermarket chains in Denmark…Following Danwatch’s inquiries, Lidl says that it has no plans to stock avocados from Petorca Province in the future. Aldi says...they have now informed their supplier about the problems and will henceforth avoid buying avocados from the plantations in question. [Includes comments from Coop, Dagrofa, Dansk Supermarked, Rema] [Refers to Coop (Kvickly, SuperBrugsen, Fakta, Irma), Dansk Supermarked (Netto, Føtex, Bilka), Dagrofa (Spar, Meny, Kiwi), Lidl, Aldi, and Rema 1000 in Denmark…and Sociedad Agrícola Los Graneros, Agrícola Pililén, Agrícola Cóndor, in Chile]
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Activist receives death threats following Danwatch avocado investigation
30 March 2017
…On Monday, March 20, Rodrigo Mundaca received an anonymous call on his mobile phone…Mundaca is an activist that works with the organisation MODATIMA to promote water rights in Chile. The water shortage in the Chilean province of Petorca has worsened in recent years, both because of drought and because of a massive increase in the water-intensive production of avocados…Thomas Bang, director of communications at Aldi Danmark, says that the supermarket “strongly objects to those kinds of methods.”…At Dansk Supermarked, director of communications…says that death threats are obviously “absolutely reprehensible.”...One of the avocado plantations in Chile…fined for water code violations…represented by lawyer Juan Pablo Cerda L [said]:…“…we completely condemn the threats received by Mr. Rodrigo Mundaca’s…”…At the trade organisation for fresh fruit, ASOEX, chairman of the Board, Ronald Bown Fernández writes:…”According to our association’s core values and principles, ASOEX acknowledges and respects the right of people to express their opinions publicly without interference or threat, as expressly stipulated in our national Constitution. Therefore, ASOEX utterly rejects all statement or action aimed at infringing the freedom of speech”.
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US Govt. suspends enforcement of "conflict minerals" law - human rights groups testify on importance of keeping it
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Eni response
...Eni's filings in the pending proceeding in Milan will set forth the company's position regarding the acquisition of OPL 245. In addition, as noted in our letter of March 31, 2017, for further information about this matter, please refer to the materials regarding OPL 245 available on our website and, in particular, the press release issued by the company on December 22, 2016 and February 8 and 22, 2017...
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Shell response
Shell response on OPL 245 allegations, 8 April 2017
...[B]ased on our review of the Prosecutor of Milan's file and all of the information and facts available to Shell, we do not believe that there is a basis to prosecute Shell. Furthermore, we are not aware of any evidence to support a case against any former or current Shell employee. If the evidence ultimately proves that improper payments were made by Malabu or others to then current government officials in exchange for improper conduct relating to the 2011 settlement of the long-standing legal disputes, it is Shell’s position that none of those payments were made with its knowledge, authorization or on its behalf....
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New Report by Global Witness & Finance Uncovered says Shell and Eni were involved in a corrupt oil deal which deprived the Nigerian people of more than $1.1 billion
A new report by Global Witness and Finance Uncovered reveals how Shell and Eni allegedly participated in a vast bribery scheme for one of Africa’s most valuable oil blocks, known as OPL 245 in Nigeria. Top executives at Shell allegedly knew that money they paid as part of a $1.3bn deal in 2011 for a huge Nigerian oil field would end up in the hands of a convicted money launderer, former oil minister of the country, Dan Etete, who had awarded the field/block to his own company, Malabu Oil & Gas, in 1998 when he was oil minister. The report also alleges that part of the bribe money was also paid to former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and other high ranking politicians.
Global Witness and Finance Uncovered say that the deal, fraught with corruption, deprived the Nigerian people of $1.1billion in development finance, an amount worth more than Nigeria’s entire health budget for 2016. According to Global Witness, both companies said they had commissioned separate, independent investigations- “No illegal conduct was identified,” Eni has said, claiming that it “concluded the transaction with the Nigerian government, without the involvement of any intermediaries”. Shell said it had shared key findings of its OPL 245 investigation with relevant authorities and that “we do not believe that there is a basis to prosecute Shell.”
Shell and Eni responses to enquiries from Global Witness are attached as part of this story.
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Nationalism, xenophobia and authoritarianism: how should business respond to these rising trends?
Gregory Tzeutschler Regaignon, Research Director
As shocking as Donald Trump’s election was to all of us who believe in human rights and social justice in the US and globally, and as weak as implementation of his agenda and his popularity have been in his first three months, it is dangerous to view his election, and his voters’ rejection of mainstream politics, as an isolated moment.
Advocates for human rights, open government, and a more equal and fair society have been dismayed by many of the administration’s actions, including
an immigration and travel ban that courts have struck down as discriminatory
the repeal of rules that restricted availability of government contracts for companies that violate labour rights
the approval of oil pipelines that environmental groups fear will threaten water sources, and that disregard indigenous rights and claims
the reversal of policies to fight climate change
the dismantling of mandates that companies report their payments to foreign governments for oil, gas and mining operations, and their actions to avoid “conflict minerals” in their supply chains
On some issues, most notably the immigration ban and climate policies, many companies have stood for human rights and environmental justice, based on both their interests and their principles. These are welcome voices for responsible policy, but they may ironically reinforce populist and nationalist support for the administration that is based in disdain for elites and suspicion of corporate influence. This danger is particularly high when the companies that speak out are “gig economy” firms like Uber and Lyft whose business model undermines workers’ rights and decent wages, and global companies like clothing giant VF Corp. who profit from trade policies that have driven down workers’ earnings, particularly among the less educated.
Although it makes sense for business leaders to speak out on discrete issues where they have particular interest and leverage, they risk fuelling a backlash unless they do so without connecting to broad-based concerns about excessive corporate influence, low pay, inequality, and lack of economic security and opportunity. To avoid this, their actions must connect to and support movements for social change and political reform. Three fundamental steps would show they are doing this:
Engage with and learn from social movements that have mobilised unprecedented broad support for inclusive prosperity and a healthy, open, and fair society, such as Fight for 15, climate justice groups, civil liberties NGOs, and women’s march organisers – and enter into constructive dialogue about how business should evolve to advance their goals
Empower employees to organise and speak out on social and environmental issues, and heed their voices, as Google did after thousands of employees protested the Muslim immigration ban
Join calls and actions for limits on corporate money and influence in politics, reflecting the 66% of small businesses who believe that unlimited corporate donations are bad for business, and adopt and support clear and strong conflict of interest and disclosure policies
While we who advocate for human rights welcome support from the business community, ad hoc lip service without deeper engagement is both tactically and morally insufficient at a moment when all forms of justice faces such grave threats from nationalist and increasingly authoritarian government.
Golda S. Benjamin, Southeast Asia Researcher & Representative
President Duterte’s war on drugs is dividing the Philippines on the spheres of policy, morality, and principles of law. After numerous reports of killings and human rights violations, the question now is: how can the Philippines fight a war against drugs without sacrificing law and human rights? The answers are difficult, especially in an environment where critics of the President’s crusade against drugs are aggressively dismissed. When the European Union raised it’s human rights concerns and mentioned the possibility of removing the Philippines’ trade preferences, Duterte simply told the EU to “mind their own business”. After The New York Times published two articles and a video documentary, all critical of the drug war, palace officials accused it of doing a demolition job against a very popular president.
In this tense and criticism-averse national environment, civil society, government, and businesses all have serious and urgent roles to play.
It is critical for businesses to clearly and publicly send the message that their support of the war against drugs is conditioned on the respect for human rights and the rule of law. For example, after donating to government, businesses must continuously monitor and audit the use of their funds to ensure that they go to rehabilitative programmes and facilities, and not to less-than-legitimate operations indiscriminately targeting alleged drug addicts.
If the business sector’s message on this issue is unclear, it would be very easy for rabid supporters of an all-out drug war, to launch a propaganda campaign claiming that even business actors are willing to sacrifice law and human rights in order to address the drug problem in the Philippines. This need is especially urgent, as Duterte’s biggest supporters exploit his approval ratings to maintain the public’s unconditional support of his all-out war, and deflect accusations of authoritarian conduct.
Businesses must also be vocal in taking a collective stand against unlawful and indiscriminate targeting of their workers who are accused of being drug addicts. Philippine law gives businesses the right to conduct random drug testing for their workers. In reminding government that this mechanism exists, businesses will be perfectly positioned to protect their workers and still tell government that they too are determined to keep work environments drug-free.
For civil society, we must help encourage and even pressure businesses to clarify their support of Duterte’s drug war. Additionally, we need to use lawful mechanisms to exact accountability and transparency in the use of corporate funds to pursue the war on drugs. Business and Human Rights Resource Centre can contribute by using our company response mechanism to invite businesses to provide clear statements communicating their demand for government to respect human rights in the war against drugs. It is also possible to use public fund accountability laws to trace where donated corporate funds go – to ensure that these are not used to promote serious human rights violations by government actors.
Right now, businesses in the Philippines have been relatively quiet on the human rights concerns related to the war on drugs. It is time for them to speak up.
Isabel Ebert, Western Europe Researcher & Representative
Western Europe has witnessed a significant rise in xenophobia over the last few years. Many Western European countries such as France, Belgium, Germany and Sweden, have seen far-right movements before and racism and xenophobia have long existed. But now, a new rise of right-wing populist politics has brought repressive governments with it. As most of these countries are predominantly shaped by Christian values, populists have also gained approval through the rise of Islamophobia. Migrants and refugees are therefore frequently subject to suspicious observation and or hostile treatment.
Business can help fight this prejudice by integrating migrants through employment opportunities and vocational training, so that they can actively participate in society. Wir Zusammen, an initiative integrating refugees into the workforce, founded by German entrepreneur and supported by over 150 companies including McDonalds, Google and the Deutsche Bank, demonstrates the potential for positive corporate action in the face of xenophobia. Alongside the challenge of integrating migrants into the labour market, hate speech in the media, based on race, ethnicity and religion is a major concern in the region. We’ve seen hate speech feed into politics in the upcoming elections in France and Germany, and during Brexit. Corporate involvement in this sweeping trend can range from funding and disseminating hate speech, to standing up for diversity and tolerance.
Progressive business voices can be a key source to influence public discourse on inclusion and integration. Companies have started to engage with civil society on the matter and some governments, such as the German one, are stepping up with regulatory measures to hold social media companies to account. The fast moving dynamics of hate speech and xenophobia in social media will require an equally fast adapting response by companies, civil society and governments to mitigate harmful effects.
Ella Skybenko, Eastern Europe/Central Asia Researcher & Representative
Since 2000 Russian authorities have been reducing public and legal space for civil society institutions, particularly in the case of human rights groups, opposition movements and the media. In 2014 Vladimir Putin, threatened by a revolution in Ukraine, sent a clear message to Russian citizens that any acts of resistance would have serious consequences. This has resulted in a crackdown on civil society in Russia. The success of the crackdown has set a bad example for other countries in the region. Recent examples of governments cracking down on civic space include Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Bosnia.
Businesses operating in such countries don’t seem to be concerned with human rights records of authoritarian governments, remaining silent, feigning ignorance or at worst helping authorities in their crackdown. This was the case in Russia when Sergey Nikiforov, an Evenk indigenous community leader opposing a gold mining project, was sentenced to 4 years in prison on allegedly fabricated charges of bribery brought by the engineering company “DalTeploEnergo”. This is just one of many examples.
Development banks don’t seem too concerned about human rights abuses either. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is being criticized for failing to safeguard vulnerable groups in projects outside the EU. Out of the 68 countries covered by its External Lending Mandate, 38 are ranked as authoritarian or hybrid regimes by the Economist Intelligence Unit. For example, the EIB signed a loan agreement of 50 million EUR with the International Bank of Azerbaijan, even though the bank is known as a financial supporter of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), whose income helps strengthen the authoritarian state regime.
As this dangerous trend proceeds worldwide, it is crucial democratic countries and the UN respond, by supporting a concept of universal human rights through all available means, including the media. Otherwise we run the risk of seeing widespread damage to global developments in human rights.
Bahaa Ezzelarab, Middle East & North Africa Researcher & Representative
Public and political spaces have been shrinking at an alarming rate in Egypt over the last few years. With the arrest of political dissidents, the enactment of legislation that nullifies political expression, the closure of civil society organisations and pending arrest of rights defenders, the private sector needs to realize the specific responsibilities it bears.
Lack of freedom of expression and association means that communities that suffer from environmental pollution and workers who have serious grievances have lost channels they have traditionally used to express concerns of human rights abuse. Business must not rely on the suppression of these voices to assume that their activities do not have negative impacts. Instead, it should make its position known with regards to this shrinking civil space and take steps to ensure the existence of systems and procedures that channel concerns resulting from business activities.
Businesses in Egypt must also adopt a higher standard of transparency. In a context that lacks mechanisms for freedom of information, this becomes even more pressing. Businesses must provide more information to the public on major projects that they engage in with different state bodies, and not accept the veil of secrecy often cast upon them. Plans surrounding mega coal power projects in Hamrawein exemplify this lack of transparency, where very little is known about whether adequate human rights due diligence or studies on potential social and environmental impacts have been conducted. Similarly, businesses must also provide sufficient information on their supply chains, and must bear the responsibility to respect human rights in different tiers of their supply chains. While the Egyptian government is adopting several policies and incentives to attract foreign investment, the private sector must not abuse this context to escape accountability and abandon its obligations to respect human rights.
Joseph Kibugu, Eastern Africa Researcher & Representative
A few weeks ago, more than 260,000 Somali refugees staying at the Daadab refugee camp gained reprieve when the High Court prevented the Kenyan government from forcefully repatriating them. The executive had argued that a number of attacks by Al-Shabaab extremists had been planned from within the camp. A government spokesman was quoted saying, "the lives of Kenyans matter. Our interest in this case, and in the closure of Dadaab refugee camp, remains to protect the lives of Kenyans." However, the High Court ruled that "…the government's decision specifically targeting Somali refugees is an act of group persecution, illegal discriminatory and therefore unconstitutional…"
The recent Nairobi Declaration on Durable Solutions for Somali Refugees and Reintegration of Returnees in Somalia, opened a window of opportunity for Kenyan businesses to take proactive measures to support refugee livelihoods while at the same time, promoting their own business interest. Among its appeals, it adopted “a 'whole of society' approach to refugee protection and assistance by enabling…private sector actors to support refugees, especially women, children and the vulnerable”. This would mark the beginning of a full embrace of Somali refugees who have often been viewed with suspicion by many locals.
When Somalia stabilizes, as we are all hoping it will someday, Kenyan businesses ranging from hospitality, construction and banking, stand to benefit. They will very likely rush to participate in post-conflict reconstruction and establish local branches of Nairobi-headquartered companies, as they have done with expansion into the neighboring countries like South Sudan. The time to extend friendship to the people of Somalia is now – by taking positive steps and offering them training, internships and job opportunities without exploiting their immigration status and develop a new crop of business leaders who would be uniquely positioned to lead the private sector in Somalia. The private sector ought to leverage its access to political power by encouraging government to respect the acceptable human rights and humanitarian standards in dealing with terrorism, as opposed to nationalistic notions that exclude parts of the population. It should take a leaf from the German private sector which has taken positive steps to embrace and accommodate migrants from warring countries in the Middle East, in what is increasingly proving to be a smart business move.
In the debate about how Kenya treats its refugees especially from Somalia, the private sector has been loudly silent. This is may be a lost opportunity, not only to promote human wellbeing, but also the sectors own interests.
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EU Prolongs Sanctions on Iran Over Human Rights Violations
The European Union on Tuesday extended until April 2018 sanctions against Iran for "serious human rights violations", a narrower measure than restrictions the bloc had already lifted after an international accord on Tehran's nuclear programme.
The EU has pursued rapprochement with Iran since the 2015 nuclear deal, which reversed a decade of hard-hitting Western financial and trade sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Top EU officials have been shuttling in and out of Tehran since, often accompanied by large European business delegations.
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United Airlines CEO apologizes for ‘horrific event,’ promises review of policies after passenger violently deplaned
After two days of conflicting explanations, falling stock prices and worldwide outrage, United Airlines [part of United Continental] entered mea culpa mode Tuesday afternoon when its chief executive announced an internal investigation into an incident involving a man who was violently removed from a plane so a crew member could have his seat. “I continue to be disturbed by what happened,” United chief executive Oscar Munoz said in a statement. “I deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all the customers aboard. No one should ever be mistreated this way.” “We are going to fix what’s broken so this never happens again,” Munoz said, promising a public report by April 30 on a review into United’s partnerships with law enforcement, its policies on giving seats to employees and overbooking.
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United Airlines passenger violently dragged from seat on overbooked flight
A man was violently removed from a United Airlines [part of United Continental] flight by aviation policeofficials at Chicago’s O’Hare international airport on Sunday, in an incident captured on video by several other passengers. In one clip, posted by passenger Audra Bridges to Facebook, guards can be seen aggressively grabbing, and then dragging, the passenger down the aisle of the plane, which was bound for Louisville, Kentucky... United said airline representatives chose four passengers to leave the plane at random based on ticket class, frequent flier status and check-in time, and that one man selected refused to leave his seat... The Chicago aviation department said later that one of the officers did not follow protocol... The man rushed back on to the plane, past security and airline officials after being dragged off, his face bloodied and looking confused...
“This is an upsetting event to all of us here at United,” airline CEO Oscar Munoz said... “I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers..." In a statement the Chicago police department said that the man became “irate” after he was asked to disembark and that he “fell” when aviation officers “attempted to carry the individual off the flight... His head subsequently struck an armrest causing injuries to his face.” The airlines contract of carriage, an agreement that all customers assent to when booking, does give United the freedom to deny ticketed passengers travel if a flight is overbooked.
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México: British American Tobacco desarrolla programa contra trabajo infantil en beneficio de 15,000 niños y niñas, según autoridades
“British American Tobacco, comprometida con la infancia nayarita”, 4 de Abril de 2017
British American Tobacco (BAT) México logró erradicar el trabajo infantil en sus campos de producción de tabaco, y cada año ofrece educación a alrededor de mil niños, hijos de jornaleros. Durante un recorrido por los campos de tabaco de la empresa inglesa y el centro Florece Amapa, que funciona como centro escolar para niños hasta los 14 años de edad, el director de Jalisco, Desarrollo y Fomento (Jadeo) A.C., Ramón Sepúlveda, explicó que de diciembre a mayo de cada año, los jornaleros bajan de la sierra nayarita con sus hijos, quienes en el pasado también trabajaban en los campos para generar ingresos familiares. Pero hoy, “la historia ha ido cambiando…”Comentó que en los tres centros Florece (Amapa, La Presa y El Corte) los infantes tienen educación con profesores que ofrece la Secretaría de Educación Pública…Señaló que la empresa tabacalera desarrolló programas de responsabilidad social para erradicar la mano de obra infantil…
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Amnistía Internacional dice que empresa española Ferrovial “gana millones con la tortura” de personas refugiadas en Nauru por parte de Australia – incluye respuesta de la empresa
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Burkina Faso: La société civile invite les sociétés minières à alimenter le fonds minier de développement local
"Code minier du Burkina : la Société civile demande l’accélération de l’opérationnalisation du fonds minier de développement local", 12 avril 2017
Dans le cadre du suivi citoyen de l’action publique, des organisations de la société civile du secteur minier [appellent]...les sociétés minières à [appliquer les] dispositions du nouveau code minier, notamment le 1% de leur chiffre d’affaires que celles- ci doivent mettre à la disposition du fonds minier de développement local. La loi...portant code minier du Burkina Faso a mis en place le fonds minier de développement local et oblige les détenteurs des titres miniers en phase de production à contribuer à hauteur de 1% de leur chiffre d’affaires à l’alimentation dudit fonds.
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Business coaching: How to do business with respect for children's rights?
Have you thought about how your company impacts children or how to manage those impacts? Have you considered a child rights angle in your sustainability work? In your supply chain? And how about when marketing your products? Or in your social investment strategy? This training will equip participants and their companies with necessary tools to better understand and manage their impacts on children.
UNICEF, the German Global Compact Network (DGCN) and twentyfifty ltd. are pleased to invite you to attend the second rollout of a UNICEF global training package addressing the steps businesses can take to manage their impacts on children, and to integrate children’s rights into their business processes. This is a specialized, intermediate-level training, divided into four modules and conducted over two days.
Goals:
Draw on international frameworks, standards and tools, which are relevant to business in relation to children’s rights
Understand how a child rights focus can be incorporated into companies’ due diligence processes
Learn how to set up an impact assessment incorporating children’s rights;
Proactively identify and engage with affected children and their representatives
Explore how to integrate your company’s commitment and practicable mitigating actions into its corporate policy, principles, programs and reporting
Understand how to design effective grievance channels for children
Content:
Background on integrating a child rights perspective into specific corporate management processes
Discussion on practical steps, application challenges and strategies for success
An opportunity to reflect on your own business through a child rights lens
Examples and exercises based on real case studies
Target Group
The course is open for businesses from all countries, sectors and sizes. Ideally, participants will have a good understanding of the broader business and human rights framework.
Please note that the training will be held in English.
For further information please contact philipp.bleckmann@giz.de.
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Actualités Hebdomadaires du 12 avril 2017 : Accusations de mauvais traitements des réfugiés à Nauru par 2 entreprises
Vous trouverez ici un aperçu des meilleurs articles et des sujets brûlants relatifs aux entreprises et aux droits de l'homme. Avec les réponses des entreprises aux allégations ainsi que des annonces pertinentes.
Lire les Actualités en entier
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Weekly Update - 12 Apr 2017: Improving access to remedy in Europe for business-related human rights abuses
Our run down of this week's top stories and breaking news about business & human rights. Includes company responses, the latest jobs; and events announcements.
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Commentary: Same as it ever was? Labour rights and worker organisation in the modern economy
The ‘gig economy’. Platform-working. On-demand apps and algorithmic monitoring. Outside of some policy, technology and academic circles these terms will draw blank looks from most people. Yet ask people if they have heard of Uber, Deliveroo or TaskRabbit and the recognition will be far greater. They might use the apps. They might even work for them.
Over a very short period these terms, companies and the issues associated with them – as well as the concerns generated by them – have increasingly come to dominate debates about the nature of work in the modern economy. The public and policymakers alike will agree that work for many people in twenty-first century advanced capitalist economies is changing – and changing fast.
Unions, worker organisations and a growing number of politicians are increasingly concerned about the enforced casualisation, extensive monitoring, low pay and uncertain hours that many of today’s workers experience. But it is debatable whether these concerns are about ‘new’ features of the labour market or rather ever-present labour issues that affect workers in capitalist economies...
Whether in 2017 or 1917, these concerns are underpinned by the fundamental challenge of how to protect and enhance workers rights. More broadly they are about how to prevent labour exploitation and strike a fairer balance of power between employer and employees. Similarly, the key mechanisms to address these challenges remain the same: workers organising to improve their individual pay and conditions, and ensuring that protections and rights are enshrined in law....
Over the coming weeks, a new series of articles on these themes will be published jointly by the Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute (SPERI) and openDemocracy....
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Commentary: A crisis of control: what should the on-demand workforce be demanding?
When it comes to work, the UK is facing a crisis of control. We already feel among the highest sense of job insecurity of any country in Europe and work among the longest hours. Low unemployment figures mask a growing number of people without a regular wage or employment rights – the percentage of people in ‘good jobs’ that are secure and well paid is in fact dropping year on year. This loss of control over things like working hours and pay has big implications: for many young people, the idea of putting away for a secure future, whether with a pension or savings, is just not an option. What happens if a whole generation is living hand to mouth?...
If the economy stagnates when the workforce loses its grip over work quality and pay, should the government step in? Recent horror stories from people in agency, zero-hour and falsely self-employed work have sparked an outbreak of parliamentary investigations into whether our employment laws and tax policies are fit for purpose...
So what is an alternative? Rather than fearing those who might take jobs (whether robots, workers from abroad, or indeed anyone making up the increasingly elastic labour force) the aim could be to join forces with them. Collective bargaining in the on-demand economy could seek to address the needs of not just the current workforce of a company, but the potential workforce – aiming to raise the expectations of people going into work and moving in between jobs...
Everyone has a role to play in this. Businesses and unions, politicians and campaign groups –all have an interest in building an economy that gives workers security and autonomy. The speed of change in the workplace feels disorientating – but it is part of longer term trends that – scary as they are – present opportunities for us to shape what emerges...
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