United States: White House wants to set up workers’ rights diplomacy Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders On 16 November, the US Presidency published an action plan designed to protect and strengthen workers’ rights at home and abroad. In this memorandum,…
EU: real wages continue to fall in member states (study) Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders A study by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) reveals that real wages, i.e. those not adjusted for inflation,…
Bangladesh: pay rise after unprecedented strike by garment workers Corporate practices Textile workers win a 56% pay rise after a week of unprecedented strike action. Ten years on from the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory, the finger is once again being pointed at multinational brands.
Spain: Axa recognises employees’ right to be informed about AI use Corporate practices The new collective agreement at the Spanish business of insurance group Axa, signed on 29 September, introduces an obligation on the part of company management to be transparent with employees regarding data analysis and the use of algorithms in the selection, assessment and career development of individuals. This is the first major company agreement to take account of the challenges posed by the role of artificial intelligence.
Angela Rushforth (Construction Inclusion Coalition chair): “We need to change the perception of women in the construction industry” Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders At the end of September, a coalition designed to strengthen equality, diversity and inclusion in the construction industry was launched. Called the Construction Inclusion Coalition (CIC), it was founded by the chief executives of nine groups* and those of two employers' organisations in the sector (Builders Merchants Federation and National Merchant Buying Society). Angela Rushforth, CIC chair and Managing Director of Toolstation, a subsidiary of Travis Perkins, spoke to mind RH about the origins of this coalition, whose members employ over 250,000 people.
United Kingdom: employers make a commitment on homelessness Corporate practices At a time when thousands of workers are facing housing difficulties, 75 employers in the UK have signed up to the "Homelessness Covenant" in recent weeks. By doing so, they pledge to take broad action to support employees experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their home. Among the signatories are water supplier Thames Water, fast-food chain Pret A Manger and online bank Monzo, which also helped to draft the covenant.
United Kingdom: CIPD issues guide to promote inclusion of transgender employees Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the trade association for human resource management professionals,…
Great Britain: companies urged to get involved in suicide prevention Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders On 11 September 2023 the UK executive published its ‘Suicide prevention strategy for England: 2023 to 2028’ policy paper,…
Canada: investigations launched against Walmart and Hugo Boss after allegations of Uyghur forced labour in their supply chains Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders Following complaints from a group of NGOs, an investigation has been launched into Walmart and Hugo Boss which are two of three companies being accused of sourcing from factories suspected of using forced Uyghur labour.
Brazil: delivery platform iFood sanctioned by the courts for anti-union practices Initiatives from the public authorities and other stakeholders Following revelations in the press that communications agencies working on behalf of the delivery platform iFood were spying on striking delivery workers, the courts in Brazil have imposed a series of sanctions against the private company, which will have to make public amends and finance a plan to strengthen the rights of its employees.
