Ergon Update November 2011
EU toughens stance on CSR
Stuart Bell blogs on the new EU CSR strategy which he sees as representing a step-change in language and commitment, including moves towards monitoring company behaviour and also towards regulation. Human rights also move higher up the agenda. Read the full blog here.
Brazil: progress towards decent work
As part of a major research project for the European Commission, Ergon staff have recently undertaken field visits to Brazil and China to assess developments in labour markets and decent work standards since the (2008) financial crisis. In Brazil, economic growth and focused social policies aimed at stimulating domestic demand have contributed to impressive reductions in poverty and inequality, though considerable decent work challenges remain. Read Alastair Usher's Brazil blog.
Migrant workers in China
In China, a massive economic stimulus package offset the worst impacts of the economic downturn, which had most effect on domestic migrants. Read Kirsten Newitt's blog on the challenges for migrants and for China in addressing the realities of labour mobility.
London Olympics complaints process launched
The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has launched a complaint and dispute resolution process, designed to address complaints about breaches of its Sustainable Sourcing Code which covers labour, social and environmental impacts in LOCOG's supply chain. Ergon has supported LOCOG in developing the complaint process, which is based on the principles determining non-judicial grievance mechanisms in the Ruggie Principles. The process is intended to lead to mutually-agreed remediation plans in relation to legitimate complaints, primarily through mediation between the parties to a complaint. Recent Olympic Games and other major sporting events have seen a variety of allegations related to breaches of labour standards in particular, but this is the first time that a mechanism to address such complaints has been developed. Contact Steve Gibbons.
New researcher at Ergon
Natalie Perret has joined Ergon as a Researcher. A qualified New Zealand lawyer, most recently she was at the ILO working on freedom of association in the Philippines and on a global occupational health and safety database.
