Ergon

The European Commission has published a major Ergon research report that explores how best to assess and monitor the impacts of trade on employment, with a special focus on the involvement of social partners.

Ergon has authored a study on the ways in which freedom of association fosters and supports economic and social development. Published by the ILO Declaration department and launched at a seminar in South Africa in June 2011, the report identifies the ways in which strong independent worker and employer organisations contribute to the conditions that underpin economic progress.

This paper (2010) was commissioned by the UK Decent Work and Labour Standards Forum and aims to explain the workings of development finance to the private sector, and examine its actual and potential impacts on delivering decent work in a variety of contexts.

Ergon was commissioned by the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) to identify whether the working conditions of smallholder cotton producers and workers met BCI’s decent work criteria, with a particular focus on the situation of women. The work was carried out in Mali, one of BCI’s pilot regions for growing Better Cotton.

Ergon was commissioned by the Decent Work and Labour Standards Forum to investigate how far the Decent Work Agenda has permeated into national development planning and donor strategies through developing country case studies in Bangladesh and Zambia.

Research (published 2010) initially involved a detailed analysis of international policy commitments to decent work, and how these had evolved following the 2008 international financial crisis. However, the key focus was two country-based case studies on Bangladesh and Zambia, with a spotlight on the garment sector and export horticulture respectively.

Ergon has analysed how labour standard requirements can be incorporated within the public procurement contracting process. The report for the Labour Standards and Poverty Reduction Forum (2007) looks at both the legal background and the practical steps that can be taken to reference labour standards within public procurement.

Ergon authored a background paper (2008) for the regular DFID Labour Standards and Poverty Reduction Forum looking at the origins, scope and implications of the concept of decent work. Originating in the ILO, decent work has gained significant backing as a way of integrating qualitative aspects of employment, notably adherence to labour standards, with the need to create more jobs to combat poverty.

Ergon produced a study for the Expert Panel on Social, Environmental and Economic Performance (SEEP) of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) on the Social Impacts of Global Cotton Production (2008).

This review provides a detailed picture of the information sources available on the ‘social impacts’ of cotton cultivation in ten major cotton-growing countries: China, India, USA, Pakistan, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Greece, Syria and Burkina Faso. ‘Social impacts’ include both ‘positive’ impacts relating to the role of cotton production in creating jobs and supporting livelihoods, and ‘negative’ impacts relating to illegal or unsustainable labour practices.

The European Commission Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities commissioned research from Ergon looking at EU Member States and International Institutions bilateral co-operation and decent work in relation to 10 partner countries.

Ergon produced a Special Briefing in 2006 outlining the labour components of the Equator Principles, in order to assist signatories, their clients and other stakeholders in understanding the new requirements.

We will be updating this in light of the new IFC Performance Standards - and revised Equator Principles - expected in 2011.