In This Issue
Editor's Note
Responsible Labor Initiatives
At CASSA, El Salvador's largest sugar refinery, the company has had a core set of values in place for years. In spite of this, many employees say these values haven’t been well-communicated. In the words of one worker, "the link between the company values and staff members is missing."
The reason is simple: The company needed to translate its values from concept into culture.
This week, we explore how business can begin a responsible labor initiative through efforts such as the ones employed by CASSA and other firms in Central America and the Dominican Republic, where BSR has sponsored more than a dozen projects demonstrating the importance of improving labor conditions. This is the second of our two-part series, which last week focused on the business benefits of these initiatives.
Related to labor standards, Jordan has joined Cambodia in requiring apparel companies to abide by the principles established by Better Work. This will help simplify the auditing process, allowing factories to focus on continuous improvement.
And following last week's Business 4 the Environment Summit in Seoul, we highlight a message from the Maldives president about the economic value of the atmosphere.
 |
In Depth
Starting a Responsible Labor Initiative: Lessons From the DR-CAFTA
Following last week's look at why good labor practices are good for business, part two of our series on BSR's DR-CAFTA Responsible Competitiveness Project provides tips and tools for implementing responsible labor programs.
Read more →
|
Spotlight
Jordanian Government Mandates the Better Work Program
By Alison Colwell, Associate Director, Advisory Services, BSR
At the recent Better Work Jordan Buyers' Forum, Labor Minister Ibrahim Amosh announced that Jordan's exporting apparel factories will be required to use Better Work's assessments on labor standards. His aim is to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the country’s garment sector by reducing duplicative audits so factories can focus their resources on continuous improvement.
The global Better Work program—which also includes participation by Cambodia, Haiti, and Vietnam—is a unique partnership between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Finance Corporation dedicated to reducing poverty and providing a fair framework for globalization in developing countries. BSR facilitates Better Work buyers' forums at the international and in-country levels, which are designed to foster dialogue between international buyers, factories, unions, and government.
The Better Work program offers factories a range of training and capacity-building services—based on core ILO conventions and national labor laws—as part of the program's continuous improvement approach.
For more information, contact Alison Colwell.
On the Record
B4E Leader Calls for Price on Carbon
Last week, BSR President and CEO Aron Cramer joined leaders from business, government, international agencies, and NGOs at the Business for Environment (B4E) Summit in Seoul to discuss business-driven solutions for the world's most urgent environmental challenges. Discussion topics ranged from women's empowerment and renewable energy to new business paradigms and population control.
In a keynote address, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed—the first world leader to pledge carbon neutrality for his country—discussed the need for a quick transition to clean energy sources and new economic models. As president of a sea-level country that is seriously threatened by climate change impacts, Nasheed emphasized the importance of putting a price on carbon.
"The message is clear: The planet cannot support our current population and lifestyle, not to mention the needs of those in the future. … It is the height of madness when something on which we all depend, the atmosphere, is considered of no economic value."
—Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed speaking at the B4E Summit (April 22, 2010)
|
By looking at their customers in a different light and rethinking the purpose of their business, companies can uncover additional value for themselves and the planet.