BSR Insight Articles About Economic, Social & Cultural Rights

Evaluating the Socioeconomic Benefits of Mining

The International Council on Mining and Metals launched a toolkit that provides companies, civil society, and government with a framework to evaluate the socioeconomic benefits of mining at local, regional, and national levels. The toolkit—which has been tested in Chile, Ghana, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Peru, and Tanzania—is designed to encourage collaboration among a range of stakeholders on six focus areas: poverty reduction; economic development as it relates to revenue management, regional development planning, and local content; social investment; and dispute resolutions. Read more →

Posted: August 2, 2011 | Topics: Community Engagement & Development, Economic, Social & Cultural Rights, Mining, Reporting & Communications

Why Is Living Wage So Complex?

Roger McElrath, Manager, Advisory Services

Ever since the United Nations adopted its new human rights framework, companies have had an added impetus to ensure that the treatment of their employees, workers in supply chain partners, and people in local communities is just and in accordance with international standards. Read more →

Posted: August 2, 2011 | Topics: Consumer Products, Economic, Social & Cultural Rights, Energy, Financial Services, Food, Beverage & Agriculture, Health Care, Mining, Strategy & Integration, Supply Chain, Transportation, Travel & Tourism

Improving Migrant Worker Recruitment in Indonesia

Chris Nolan, Associate Director, Advisory Services

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. Read more →

Posted: July 26, 2011 | Topics: Economic, Social & Cultural Rights, Human Rights, Supply Chain

Scaling the Impact of Worker Rights In-Factory Trainings

Ayesha Barenblat, Former Director, Stakeholder Collaboration

BSR—in partnership with the Levi Strauss Foundation (LSF)—recently authored a train-the-trainer resource for under-resourced worker rights training organizations operating in the light manufacturing industry. In developing this guide, organizations including Better Work, BSR’s China Training Institute, the Asia Foundation, Verite, and CARE collaborated for the first time to share lessons learned and innovative approaches to delivering worker rights trainings. Read more →

Posted: July 19, 2011 | Topics: Civil & Political Rights, Economic, Social & Cultural Rights, Supply Chain

Social Impact Assessments Help Companies Manage Risks and Opportunities

Alison Colwell, Associate Director, Advisory Services

With growing stakeholder expectations and increasingly complex operating environments, leading companies recognize the need for a more comprehensive approach to understanding and managing project risks and opportunities that moves beyond regulatory requirements. Social impact assessments (SIA)—the process of analyzing, monitoring, and managing social issues such as resettlement and access to water—can help companies reduce risks, enhance operational decision-making, improve stakeholder relations, maximize community benefits, and secure a company’s license to operate. Read more →

Posted: June 28, 2011 | Topics: Economic, Social & Cultural Rights, Energy, Human Rights, Mining, Supply Chain, Water