Business & Human Rights

Report Criticizes Garment Companies’ Efforts Toward “Living Wage”

June 05, 2019

Researchers from the Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute have published a report alleging that companies in the garment industry are failing to meet pledges to ensure workers in their supply chains receive a “living wage” and criticizing the “outsourcing” of these efforts to external initiatives.
EC Touts Progress on Business and Human Rights

June 05, 2019

The European Commission (EC) has published a review of its progress promoting corporate social responsibility and implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, touting such initiatives as its Non-Financial Reporting Directive and promotion of “sustainable” business in developing countries.
Legal Body Reviews Corporate Environmental Standards in Conflicts

June 03, 2019

The UN-appointed International Law Commission is reviewing draft principles for governments and corporations on protecting the environment during armed conflicts that include a call for states to ensure corporations are exercising “due diligence and precaution” with respect to environmental impacts when operating in areas of armed conflict.
UK Body Seeks Enforcement Mechanism for Labor Reporting Act

June 03, 2019

Lawmakers appointed by the UK government to provide an independent review of the country’s Modern Slavery Act have published a report calling, among other proposals, for a mandatory structure regarding corporate reporting on their efforts against forced labor and the enforcement of sanctions against companies that fail to comply.
UN Body Updates Emissions Standards for Shipping Industry

June 03, 2019

At meetings in May, the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a series of measures aimed at increasing the energy efficiency of ships and reducing the maritime industry’s greenhouse gas emissions in line with the UN’s Paris climate accord.