By the Working Life Team
Tuesday, 19 April 2016
DID you know many of the routine products used in your home, office, or even during your dental or medical checkups are made through the use of child labour or exploited workers ?
Now, a one-day symposium aims to help us change that.
Workers’ Rights throughout Supply Chains will take a practical look at what can be done to protect human rights in the massive multi-billion dollar supply chain industry.
It’s an industry with a grim track record.
At least 21 million people work in forced labour, and every 15 seconds somebody dies from a job-related accident or illness. Many are killed or persecuted for joining a trade union, and over two billion people have to exist on less than US $2 a day.
But the free symposium tomorrow in Sydney hopes to turn around the sad statistics.
Key speakers include ACTU President, Ged Kearney, who will be launching a major Healthy Supply Chains Initiative to tackle the plight of thousands of workers who make medical goods.
Ged Kearney
Even though medical equipment is a multi billion dollar industry with complex and geographically dispersed supply chains, the problem is not insurmountable, says symposium organiser and speaker, Ms Katherine Moloney.
For example, in England, a British Medical Association-led campaign is making major inroads towards improving the plight of supply chain workers who produce medical products.
This means medical equipment and material — from gloves to surgical instruments — are ethically sourced.
“Australia can learn from what is being done in Europe and build upon these successful models using home-grown strategies” says Ms Moloney.
“It is immensely doable to incorporate human rights due diligence in medical goods supply chains in Australia”.
The symposium will help dispel key myths including the use of ethical labour means hiking up costs.
Supply chains — from factory to field — by their very nature are complex.
And the illegal and often abusive treatment of migrant workers is emerging as one of the most pressing public relations risk for global corporations.
Although it is rare for multinationals to employ illegal migrants directly, claiming ignorance about abusive practices in their supply chains is no longer a defence, says leading human rights experts.
A recent stinging report from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) earlier this year estimated the world’s 50 largest companies indirectly employ 116 million “hidden” undocumented workers – equivalent to 94 per cent of all the workers connected to their business.
However, under United Nations guidelines companies are expected to undertake due diligence on their supply chains, says ITUC general secretary Sharan Burrow.
But many don’t.
“The evidence of increasing insecure work informality and forced labour is mounting. There is no moral compass for business that makes profit from exploitation. This must change,” says Ms Burrow.
With their cash reserves alone, the world’s 25 largest companies could pay informal workers in their supply chain $5,000 extra per year, ITUC calculates.
But on the positive side, a number of leading companies say they want to help make change.
For example, the British Medical Association and furniture giant IKEA are committed to abolishing child labour.
“We will strengthen our efforts and learn from the good examples, with the aim to create lasting and sustainable change on a large-scale. Always with the best interests of children in mind,” says Steve Howard, chief sustainability officer, IKEA Group
Register here for the 1-day Symposium at Mitchell Theatre, 9-5pm, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney
Tuesday, 19 April 2016
DID you know many of the routine products used in your home, office, or even during your dental or medical checkups are made through the use of child labour or exploited workers ?
Now, a one-day symposium aims to help us change that.
Workers’ Rights throughout Supply Chains will take a practical look at what can be done to protect human rights in the massive multi-billion dollar supply chain industry.
It’s an industry with a grim track record.
At least 21 million people work in forced labour, and every 15 seconds somebody dies from a job-related accident or illness. Many are killed or persecuted for joining a trade union, and over two billion people have to exist on less than US $2 a day.
But the free symposium tomorrow in Sydney hopes to turn around the sad statistics.
Key speakers include ACTU President, Ged Kearney, who will be launching a major Healthy Supply Chains Initiative to tackle the plight of thousands of workers who make medical goods.
Ged Kearney
Even though medical equipment is a multi billion dollar industry with complex and geographically dispersed supply chains, the problem is not insurmountable, says symposium organiser and speaker, Ms Katherine Moloney.
For example, in England, a British Medical Association-led campaign is making major inroads towards improving the plight of supply chain workers who produce medical products.
This means medical equipment and material — from gloves to surgical instruments — are ethically sourced.
“Australia can learn from what is being done in Europe and build upon these successful models using home-grown strategies” says Ms Moloney.
“It is immensely doable to incorporate human rights due diligence in medical goods supply chains in Australia”.
The symposium will help dispel key myths including the use of ethical labour means hiking up costs.
Supply chains — from factory to field — by their very nature are complex.
And the illegal and often abusive treatment of migrant workers is emerging as one of the most pressing public relations risk for global corporations.
Although it is rare for multinationals to employ illegal migrants directly, claiming ignorance about abusive practices in their supply chains is no longer a defence, says leading human rights experts.
A recent stinging report from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) earlier this year estimated the world’s 50 largest companies indirectly employ 116 million “hidden” undocumented workers – equivalent to 94 per cent of all the workers connected to their business.
However, under United Nations guidelines companies are expected to undertake due diligence on their supply chains, says ITUC general secretary Sharan Burrow.
But many don’t.
“The evidence of increasing insecure work informality and forced labour is mounting. There is no moral compass for business that makes profit from exploitation. This must change,” says Ms Burrow.
With their cash reserves alone, the world’s 25 largest companies could pay informal workers in their supply chain $5,000 extra per year, ITUC calculates.
But on the positive side, a number of leading companies say they want to help make change.
For example, the British Medical Association and furniture giant IKEA are committed to abolishing child labour.
“We will strengthen our efforts and learn from the good examples, with the aim to create lasting and sustainable change on a large-scale. Always with the best interests of children in mind,” says Steve Howard, chief sustainability officer, IKEA Group
Register here for the 1-day Symposium at Mitchell Theatre, 9-5pm, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney
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