Global pollution kills 9m a year and threatens ‘survival of human societies’
A landmark study published in medical journal The Lancet has found that toxic air, water, soils and workplaces are responsible for the diseases that kill one in every six people around the world. The deaths attributed to pollution are triple those from Aids, malaria and tuberculosis combined, but the researchers warn the true figure could be millions higher because the impact of many pollutants is poorly understood. Low-income and rapidly industrialising countries are worst affected, suffering 92% of pollution-related deaths, with Somalia suffering the highest rate of pollution deaths. India has the largest number of pollution deaths at 2.5m. In terms of workplace-pollution related deaths, the UK, Japan and Germany all appear in the top 10. It is estimated that the welfare losses from pollution stand at $4.6tn a year, equivalent to more than 6% of global GDP. (The Guardian)
Corporate Reputation
Tesla workers claim anti-LGBT threats, taunts, and racial abuse in lawsuits
A factory worker says he was harassed for being gay whilst working at a Tesla manufacturing plant in Fremont, California. Soon after he started working on the assembly line, Jorge Ferro said he was taunted for being gay and threatened with violence. Tesla repeatedly failed to stop the anti-gay harassment and fired Ferro in retaliation for seeking protection, according to a wrongful termination lawsuit. This is the latest discrimination scandal to rock the electric car company and the allegations have come at a time when Tesla and companies across Silicon Valley are facing widespread scrutiny over harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct. Owen Diaz and his son both faced racial harassment and violent threats while working in the Tesla factory, according to a discrimination complaint they filed with a third former employee on Monday. (The Guardian)
Energy
Utility giant acquires off-grid solar specialists Fenix International
French utility giant ENGIE is continuing its transition away from fossil fuels, after announcing the acquisition of a next generation energy company that offers decentralised solar solutions to communities across Africa. ENGIE announced yesterday that it had agreed on a transaction to acquire 100% of Fenix International, which specialises in offering off-grid solar solutions across Africa. ENGIE is currently orchestrating a $16 billion divestment plan, launched in February 2016, to move away from fossil fuels and into areas such as renewables, natural gas and nuclear by 2018. Fenix’s solar home system (SHS) already benefits 140,000 people across Uganda and has recently expanded into Zambia with plans in place to spread across the continent. Fenix will become the first SHS company to be purchased by a major energy firm, and builds on ENGIE’s goal of providing 20 million people access to decarbonised and decentralised energy by 2020. (Edie)
Employees
Australian car manufacturing ends as GM Holden closes plant
Australia’s near 100-year automotive industry comes to an end today as GM Holden, a unit of U.S. carmaker General Motors, closes its plant in South Australia to move manufacturing to cheaper locations. The closure comes a year after Toyota and Ford similarly moved out of the Australian market, eliminating thousands of manufacturing jobs. John Camillo, state secretary at Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union in South Australia, said nearly 2,500 newly unemployed will need government help finding work. Under pressure help those find made redundant in the battlegound state ahead of the federal election in 18 months, Prime Minister Turnbull has sought to soften the impact of a declining automotive industry by making South Australia a defence industry hub. (Reuters)
New tripartite standard on handling unhappiness in the workplace
A new scheme launches in Singapore today to guide employers in handling unhappiness in the workplace. This is the third standard to be launched, with the first two standards covered employment conditions for term-contract employees and flexible-work arrangements. The new Tripartite Standard on Grievance Handling specifies a set of verifiable practices that employers can act on when managing workplace grievances. Among its recommendations are for companies to set up proper channels for staff to raise grievances and for bosses to investigate and respond. The standards are not compulsory, with firms will have to signing up to voluntarily adopt them. So far, over 220 employers, employing about 245,000 workers, have adopted the standard on grievance handling. (Straits Times)
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