The Challenges of Running Responsible Supply Chains

NYT blog post by Laura D'Andrea Tyson discussing some of the leading initiatives and challenges for the promotion of labour and health and safety standards through supply chains. Of particular interest to those grappling with the application of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the supply chain context.

New York Times: U.S. Retailers See Big Risk in Safety Plan for Factories in Bangladesh

The New York Times reports that American retailers remain sharply opposed to joining an international plan to improve safety conditions at garment factories in Bangladesh as their European counterparts and consumer and labor groups dismiss the companies’ concerns about legal liability. Full article here.

Reflections on Migrant Labour in China - Application of IFC Performance Standards and Equator Principles

Reading a recent blog post on migrant workers in China made me reflect on the implications for Labour and Working Conditions requirements of the Equator Principles. My blog entry considers what the IFC Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability say about the topic.

Addressing Substantial Legal Restrictions on Freedom of Association in Equator Principles Projects

Freedom of Association may be substantially restricted by law in some countries. This reality creates complex challenges for Equator Principles (EP) implementation, since the requirements of the Equator Principles require compliance with host country laws and in some cases addressing the overlapping and interrelating requirements of the IFC Performance Standards on Environmental & Social Sustainability (IFC Performance Standards). 

As we discuss in this article, the IFC Performance Standards establish standards for the protection of Freedom of Association rights, even in circumstances where the law substantially interferes with those rights.

Technical Revision of the World Bank Group Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines

The World Bank Group has begun a three-year process to review and update its Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines. More information can be found on the International Finance Corporation (IFC) website HERE.

The EHS Guidelines are technical reference documents with general and industry-specific examples of Good International Industry Practice (GIIP). They contain the performance levels and measures that are normally acceptable to the World Bank Group, and that are generally considered to be achievable in new facilities at reasonable costs by existing technology. They are used by the World Bank, IFC and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).