Top Stories

October 03, 2018

Employees

Amazon raises minimum wage for US and UK workers

Amazon has raised its minimum wage for British and American workers, in a major milestone for campaigners pushing for pay increases to tackle rising levels of poverty and inequality. The company, which has become almost a byword for low-paid and low-quality work in recent years, said it would increase its US minimum wage to $15 (£11.57) an hour for more than 350,000 workers. In the UK 40,000 permanent and temporary staff will get an increase to £10.50 an hour in London and £9.50 across the rest of the country. Jeff Bezos, the multi-billionaire founder of the e-commerce company, said: “We listened to our critics, thought hard about what we wanted to do, and decided we want to lead. We’re excited about this change and encourage our competitors and other large employers to join us.” (Financial Times, Guardian)

Tesla must defend lawsuit alleging abuse of foreign workers

A federal judge has ruled that Tesla must defend itself at a trial over allegations it knew foreign workers at its California assembly plant were threatened with deportation if they reported an injury and worked long shifts that violated forced labour laws. Tesla has been plagued with safety complaints brought by workers, allegations that Tesla denies. Workers say that long hours and pressure to deliver vehicles quickly takes a toll, and some have pushed for a union. Tesla said it investigated the allegations and broke ties with a subcontractor, ISM Vuzem, that it said did not live up to its expectations. “We’ve also since improved our supplier contracts and policies to better stop bad behaviour,” it said in a statement. (Reuters)

Transparency

Pret a Manger to bring in full labelling after teenager’s death

The UK based sandwich shop, Pret a Manger, has agreed to full ingredient labelling on all its freshly made products following the case of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died after having an allergic reaction to one of its baguettes. Under current regulations for items made in-store, it is sufficient for general allergen warnings to be posted around the shop, rather than on the packaging, and for specific advice to be given orally by staff. Pret has announced it will go further than the regulations required by introducing full ingredient labelling, including allergens, to all products freshly made in its shop kitchens. In a statement, the Pret chief executive, Clive Schlee, said: “I hope these measures set us on course to drive change in the industry so people with allergies are as protected and informed as possible. Nothing is more important to Pret right now.” (Guardian)

Sustainable Investment

Western governments and philanthropists pump $20 million into Southeast Asian clean energy

The governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom and the world’s biggest philanthropic organisations have launched a new funding platform that aims to lend a minimum of US$20 million to boost renewable energy investments in Southeast Asia, particularly in solar, wind, and storage. The Southeast Asia Clean Energy Facility (SEACEF) was unveiled at the One Planet summit in New York in September, the partnership, which included philanthropic foundations such as the Bloomberg Philanthropies, European Climate Foundation (ECF), Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (UK), and IKEA Foundation. The funding platform aims to boost the early stage of renewable energy project developments particularly in Southeast Asia’s major coal-burning countries—Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. (Eco-Business)

German first pillar reform ‘could prove difficult for ESG investors’

Proposed reforms to the state pension system in Germany might change ESG investors’ outlook on the country’s public finances, according to ratings agency Scope. Over the summer, the German government presented a proposal to guarantee current pension levels until 2025 and also cap contributions to the first pillar. The new system would increase the burden of cost on younger workers as more money was spent on retirees, Scope argued in a statement. The IMF has previously expressed concerns at the proposed reforms, arguing that a more “durable and growth-friendly way” to achieve adequate replacement rates would be to pursue pension and labour market reforms that would make it more attractive for people to extend their working lives. (IPE)

External Event

Chatham House: A Sustainable Food Future 2018

26-27th November | London, UK

In the context of a growing world population, dwindling agricultural resources and rising concerns about climate change are adding pressure to an already strained global food system, the annual Chatham House Food Conference will explore practical solutions to build a more resilient food system and feed the global population sustainably, focusing on the responsibility of key actors in achieving these goals.

Over two days sessions will cover the following topics: Food Systems, International Food Trade, Sustainable Agriculture and the Future of Land, Investment, Innovation and Disruptive Technologies, Delivering Sustainable and Healthy Diets, Food Loss and Food Waste.

Register now to reserve your place.

 

Image source: Pret a Manger by InSapphoWeTrust on Flickr. CC BY-SA 2.0.

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