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Corporate Social Responsibility
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1.29.2008 - 11:59pm ET
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New Report from BSR and FIAS: “Competitiveness and CSR in the Jordanian Apparel Industry”
(CSRwire) SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON, DC – January 29, 2008 – Business for Social
Responsibility (BSR) and FIAS, the World Bank Group's investment climate
advisory service, have released a new report that outlines strategies for
improving labor practices and competitiveness among textile and apparel
manufacturers in Jordan while reducing inspection and private auditing.
"Competitiveness
and CSR in the Jordanian Apparel Industry aims to assist the
Jordanian government, manufacturers and international buyers move toward a
more sustainable supply chain management model," said Tara Rangarajan,
Managing Director of BSR's Advisory Services. "It contains recommendations
to the government on how it can leverage buyer and manufacturer initiatives
to strengthen compliance, while at the same time build capacity in its
public inspectorate."
In 2006 the National Labor Committee (NLC), a U.S.-based NGO, released a
report that alleged abusive treatment of migrant workers in Jordan's
textile and apparel industry. Subsequently, factories were exposed to
sharp increases in public inspections and auditing visits from buyers and
their agents. Some buyers removed orders as a result of increased
compliance costs and lack of trust in the public inspectorate. The NLC
continues to publish similar allegations.
The Government of Jordan has taken measures to improve overall labor
administration and is working with the International Labour Organization
(ILO) on a review of its labor law. It has also committed to implementing
and co-funding the ILO/IFC Better Work Jordan program, with additional
support from USAID and international buyers (see www.betterwork.org for more
information). At the same time, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and
Ministry of Labor are implementing a comprehensive licensing and
inspection reform program with support from IFC Advisory Services, IFC
PEP-MENA.
The BSR/FIAS report is the result of that program's corporate social
responsibility (CSR) component and is based on more than a year of
research and in-depth interviews with manufacturers, buyers, government,
civil society and unions.
"The issues facing buyers and manufacturers in Jordan are not unique,"
says Kristina Svensson, Project Manager, FIAS. "At this time, the country
has the opportunity to turn around the negative attention from the NLC
reports and take proactive attitudes to address the issues and restore the
industry's repuation."
Competitiveness and CSR in the Jordanian Apparel Industry, which
outlines specific recommendations for buyers, manufacturers and
government, is available for download at http://www.bsr.org/reports/BSR_FIAS_Jordan-Report.pdf.
About BSR
Since 1992, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) has been providing
socially responsible business solutions to many of the world’s leading
corporations. Headquartered in San Francisco and with offices in Europe,
China and Hong Kong, BSR is a nonprofit business association that serves
its 250 member companies and other Global 1000 enterprises. Through
advisory services, convenings and research, BSR works with corporations
and concerned stakeholders of all types to create a more just and
sustainable global economy. For more information, visit www.bsr.org.
About FIAS
Foreign Investment Advisory Service (FIAS) is a multidonor service of IFC,
the private sector arm of the World Bank Group; the Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency; and the World Bank. FIAS advises governments of
developing and transition countries on how to improve their investment
climates for domestic and foreign investors. FIAS focuses on regulatory
simplification, industry-specific investment climate issues, and
investment policy and promotion. Since 1987, FIAS has assisted over 130
countries in increasing the level and impact of private investments
through more than 680 projects. For more information, visit www.fias.net.
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