Corporate Social Responsibility Press Release
provided by 
7.01.2008 - 11:59pm ET
News from:
Business for Social Responsibility
BSR Protects International Labor Migrants
MacArthur Grant Supports Two-Year Global Initiative
(CSRwire) SAN FRANCISCO, CA – July 1, 2008 – Business for Social Responsibility
(BSR) has launched a two-year initiative to help protect the rights of
international labor migrants along global supply chains in South and
Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the Gulf States and Africa. The program,
made possible with generous support from the John D. and Catherine T.
MacArthur Foundation, will respond to the increasing needs of people
seeking economic opportunities outside of their home countries.
Labor migrants now represent roughly 190 million people, or about 3
percent of the global population. Though international labor migration has
traditionally involved the movement of workers from the developing world to
industrialized economies, the movement of workers within the developing
world is accelerating rapidly. Nonetheless, there are no clear
recommendations for how multinational companies can help with research,
dialogue and policy on this issue, which is central to their business.
"We will advance the rights of migrants along global supply chains by
ensuring that companies have a voice and a platform to bring their
influence to public policy and corporate practice," said Chad Bolick,
BSR's Director of CSR Strategy.
BSR's work will leverage primary and secondary research, pilot projects
and multi-stakeholder strategy sessions with multinational companies,
their suppliers in developing countries, policymakers, labor
representatives and migrant workers. At the second Global Forum on
Migration and Development in Manila in October 2008 (www.gfmd2008.org), BSR will represent
the private sector alongside a diverse group of stakeholders. BSR will
also issue a trends report that includes initial recommendations for the
private sector on protecting the rights of labor migrants.
The project, which commenced in June 2008 and will continue through June
2010, will focus initially on Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Jordan, Malaysia,
Mauritius, the Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and
Vietnam. Following the trends report, BSR will launch pilot projects in
select countries to test activities aimed at mitigating rights violations,
which will run alongside private sector advocacy efforts. In Asia, research
efforts will be led by BSR's Asia Director, Jeremy Prepscius; in the United
States, advocacy efforts will be led by Tara Rangarajan, BSR's Managing
Director of Advisory Services.
About BSR
Since 1992, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) has been providing
socially responsible business solutions to many of the world's leading
corporations. Headquartered in San Francisco and with offices in New York,
Paris, Guangzhou, Beijing and Hong Kong, BSR is a nonprofit business
association that serves its 250 member companies and other Global 1000
enterprises. Through advisory services, convenings and research, BSR works
with corporations and concerned stakeholders of all types to create a more
just and sustainable global economy. For more information, visit www.bsr.org.
About the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective
institutions committed to building a more just, verdant and peaceful
world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, the Foundation
works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security,
make cities better places, and understand how technology is affecting
children and society.
For more information please contact:
Eva Dienel, Communications Manager
Business for Social Responsibility
415-984-3233
www.bsr.org
www.bsr.org
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