The Global Unions’ Committee on Workers’ Capital (CWC) is an international labor union network for dialogue and action on the responsible investment of workers’ capital. The CWC Secretariat is hosted at the Shareholder Association for Research and Education (SHARE), a leader in responsible investment services for institutional investors. In her capacity as International Program Director at SHARE, Priya Bala Miller executes strategic planning, coordination and program development for the CWC. Prior to joining SHARE, Priya worked with UN agencies and international NGOs as an advocate for corporate social responsibility and sustainability.
In a recent interview, Miller shared three themes she is working on now:
First, we want to expand the discussion of labour rights in emerging markets beyond the limiting frame of supply chain management. Focusing on the supply chain frame, to some extent, has resulted in less attention being accorded to certain labour rights such as freedom of association and collective bargaining, and to poor conditions for workers in direct employment relationships with companies operating in emerging markets.
Second, we are gravely concerned about the rise of precarious working conditions (seasonal, part-time and temporary jobs) which are especially prevalent in dangerous and ‘dirty’ jobs in emerging markets. One of our current projects is examining the various forms of investment risk associated with the employment of precarious labour by companies associated with mega-sporting events such as the Olympics or World Cup Soccer, particularly when we note that many of these events have just been or will be held in countries like Russia, South Africa, Brazil and Qatar.
Finally, we are interested in a productive dialogue with pension funds on their contribution to financing a “just transition” for workers to a greener economy, particularly in terms of job creation. Green investments in emerging markets could play a major role in economic and social development, if structured appropriately.
Read the whole interview with Priya Bala Miller.
Each week Emerging Markets ESG publishes an interview entitled, “Five Questions about SRI.” Their most recent is with Anny Barlow, based in Vietnam. Each interview features a practitioner’s insights about SRI in emerging markets. The goals of Five Questions about SRI are fourfold:
- Collect a catalogue of examples of SRI in practice in emerging markets;
- Raise awareness about SRI in emerging markets;
- Reflect on what SRI in emerging markets means to practitioners; and
- Enable SRI practitioners in emerging markets to network with peers around the world.
Get to know the site and explore some of their outstanding resources, including their 14th edition of Contacts in the Field of Socially Responsible Investment (SRI).
The downloadable Excel database contains 1,539 organizations and 807 conferences/events divided among the following 15 categories: Academia (65 institutions); Awards and Prizes (29); Companies – Listed Companies (428); Conferences and Events (807); Exchanges (25): Financial Institutions (220); Governmental Organizations (70); Indices (58), Media (82); Networks (82); Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) (244); Private-Public Partnerships (13); Professional and Trade Associations (83); Rating and Research (124); and Standard-Setting Organizations (16). Our site on corporate governance is listed in the Networks category.
The mission of Emerging Markets ESG is to promote ESG reporting in emerging markets as an effective tool for boosting competitiveness and promoting sustainable growth.
We wish Geoffrey Mazullo and others associated with the site all the best in their future endeavors.
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