Report: Modern Slavery Act galvanising leadership action
The Ethical Trading Initiative and Hult International Business School have investigated responses to modern slavery within 71 leading companies ahead of the first anniversary of the UK Modern Slavery Act. Their survey and report, Corporate Leadership on Modern Slavery, found that 97 percent of CEOs and senior executives see reputational risk as the biggest driver for change, and 86 see corporate action on human rights as a critical business responsibility. 67 percent of CEOs and Senior Executives have received training on modern slavery in the past year. Regarding corporate action on modern slavery, 90% of respondents saw due diligence on core labour standards as crucial to tackling modern slavery. Leading companies are increasingly conducting human rights risk analyses by country, sector or type of labour and prioritizing their salient risks accordingly. (Ethical Trading Initiative)
Environment
World’s largest marine park created in Ross Sea in Antarctica in landmark deal
A landmark international agreement to create the world’s largest marine park in the Southern Ocean has been brokered in Australia, after five years of compromises and failed negotiations. More than 1.5 million square kilometres of the Ross Sea around Antarctica will be protected under the deal brokered between 24 countries and the European Union. 1.1 million square kilometres – an area about the size of France and Spain combined – will be set aside as a no-take “general protection zone”, where no fishing will be allowed. It is the first marine park created in international waters and will set a precedent for further moves to help the world achieve the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s recommendation that 30 percent of the world’s oceans be protected. (Guardian)
Employees
UK ‘gig economy’ worker rights inquiry announced
The UK Parliament’s Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee has launched an inquiry into the changing nature of work and the status and rights of workers in non-traditional employment roles. The inquiry’s terms of reference will include whether or not the current legal categories of workers are appropriate, and if there is sufficient protection and support for those outside traditional employment roles. Earlier this month, the Prime Minister announced a separate six-month independent review of modern employment practices covering issues including the security, pay and rights of workers. There has been a surge of public interest in working conditions of those in the gig economy, with recent news coverage on the labour practices of companies such as Uber, Deliveroo, Asos, Hermes and Addison Lee. (Personnel Today)
Policy
Mexican economy set for boost following energy reforms
Mexico’s wide-ranging energy reform is expected to reverse the country’s declining oil production, increase the share of renewables in the power sector, and slow the growth in carbon emissions, providing a solid foundation for robust economic growth, according to a report by the International Energy Agency. The reforms will end the longstanding dominance of Petróleos Mexicanos in oil and gas, and of the Comisión Federal de Electricidad in the electricity sector, opening up key parts of the energy sector to new players, investment and technology. Mexico’s innovative auction system will provide a substantial boost to the country’s clean energy efforts in the power sector, according to the report, allowing Mexico to reach its target of producing 35 percent of electricity from clean sources by 2024. (Blue & Green Tomorrow)
Technology & Innovation
Uber sees flying commuters in 10 years
Flying commuters could be whizzing to work through the sky less than 10 years from now, according to ride-services provider Uber. Uber Technologies has released a white paper envisioning a future in which commuters hop onto a small aircraft, take off vertically and within minutes arrive at their destinations. Uber already offers helicopter rides to commuters in Brazil. The company plans to convene a global summit to explore on-demand aviation, in which small electric aircraft could take off and land vertically to reduce congestion and save time for long-distance commuters, and eventually city dwellers. Uber argues that on-demand aviation will be affordable and achievable in the next decade assuming effective collaboration between regulators, communities and manufacturers. (Reuters)
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