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In This Issue
Editor's Note
The Opportunity for Technology in Sustainability
This week, we talk with BSR’s new ICT Practice Director Vijay Kanal about the many opportunities for high-tech companies not only to improve their own sustainability practices but to use technology to help solve broader environmental and social challenges. Kanal, who started his career as an electrical engineer and later held various senior roles at Sun Microsystems, spoke with us about what his personal mission in working with ICT companies, and what he thinks other companies can learn from high-tech “risk-takers.”
We also report back from a recent meeting BSR and Intel held with experts in Beijing to talk about how innovations in things like infrastructure, institutions, incentives, and investments can lead to progress on China’s social and environmental challenges.
And we highlight findings from our recent report on how to improve migrant worker recruitment in Indonesia.
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In Depth
Opportunities for Technology in Sustainability: In Conversation With BSR’s New ICT Practice Director
By Eva Dienel, Associate Director, Communications, BSR
Technology companies have the opportunity to improve sustainability for themselves and for their customers. Vijay Kanal talks about his personal mission in working with ICT companies, the one issue all tech companies should be thinking about, and what other organizations can learn from high-tech’s “risk-taking” culture.
Read more →
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Spotlight
BSR, Intel Gather Experts to Spur Social Innovation in China
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At a Beijing meeting, BSR and Intel brought together 15 government, academic, nonprofit, and business experts to discuss how things like infrastructure, institutions, incentives, inspiration, integration, interaction, and investments can spark innovative solutions to address China’s growing social and environmental challenges. Experts also discussed how companies could leverage their expertise, technology, talent, and capital to transform their traditional approaches to social responsibility to make a greater impact.
The group identified three types of opportunities:
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Policy opportunities for the Chinese government to transition from a focus on total growth to a focus on service-oriented, sustainable development
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Market opportunities driven by unmet social needs such as the significant wealth and education divide and an aging population that will reach 470 million by 2050
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Technology opportunities for companies to build networks that can deliver people- and community-oriented services at a larger scale and at lower costs
To realize these opportunities, business needs to make social innovation a part of its corporate strategic portfolio.
To learn more, read our briefing paper (also available in Chinese) or contact Pei Bin.
Toolbox
Improving Migrant Worker Recruitment in Indonesia
By Chris Nolan, Associate Director, Advisory Services, BSR
BSR’s Migration Linkages initiative released a new report covering the experiences of migrant workers who leave Indonesia for Malaysia. The report also includes recommendations for improving Indonesia’s recruitment system.
The research revealed significant variability in the recruitment process:
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A lack of standards on workers’ recruitment fees and how the fees should be paid
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Inconsistent practices related to signing contracts with end employers
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A high degree of variability in how grievances are raised by workers and handled by recruitment agencies and employers
To address these issues in Indonesia, the government must codify and promote characteristics of a “good” recruitment agency and incentivize ethical recruitment. And business must improve pre-departure orientations, promote awareness and protection of individual worker rights, and ensure access to remediation measures.
We will be releasing more guidance on ethical recruitment for companies later this year. For more information, contact Chris Nolan or Guy Morgan.
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