In the August issue of Ethical Corporation we take an in-depth look at the challenges companies are facing addressing forced labour in their supply chains, highlight some of the leaders in reporting on human rights impacts, and report on how businesses are helping address the global refugee crisis

August is a month when a lot of people catch up on their reading, and we have a bumper issue of analysis and comment for our readers to dive into as we turn our attention to modern slavery and the wider human rights agenda for companies.

Katherine Steiner-Dicks reports on growing calls for major reforms to the UK’s Modern Slavery Act, while Oxfam’s Monica Romis highlights how even leading supermarkets are far from ending suffering in their supply chains.

Mark Hillsdon looks at why Leicester-based Next is unable to source garments from many of the factories on its own doorstep because of the high risk of labour exploitation.

Phil Bloomer of the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre has some advice for new prime minister Boris Johnson on how his government could restore UK leadership on tackling modern slavery.

Mike Scott interviews Brian Iselin, co-founder of Slavefreetrade, a platform that is using blockchain to help companies certify their supply chains are free of modern slavery. He also reports on how AB Sugar is helping smallholder farmers in Africa secure land rights.

(Credit: Sandra Coburn/Cloudburst for USAID)
 

ShareAction’s Aine Clarke explains how the investor-led Workforce Disclosure Initiative is seeking to protect vulnerable workers and promote decent jobs for all, while Mike Scott looks at emerging best practice in corporate reporting of human rights risks, with case studies on ABN Amro and JLL.

Finally, I travel to Bangalore in India to report on how a new programme by The Body Shop to source the world’s first Fair Trade plastics for its packaging is improving the lives of waste pickers.

Our second briefing is on companies that are stepping up to the refugee crisis. Michael Levitin reports on how companies from Chobani Yoghurt to WeWork, IKEA and Airbnb are helping to integrate refugees into their workforces and supply chains.

In September, in advance of the big UN climate conference in New York, Ethical Corporation will feature an in-depth report on the rise of carbon pricing. We will also take a look at how companies are reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Enjoy the rest of the summer.

Main picture credit: Oxfam America
 
Oxfam  modern slavery act  Brian Iselin  Slavefreetrade  Next  AB Sugar  Chobani Yoghurt  Tent Partnership for Refugees  Airbnb  WeWork  Fair Trade plastics  The Body Shop  ABN Amro. JLL 

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