SAN FRANCISCO, CA "“ July 1, 2008 "“ Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) has launched a two-year initiative to help protect the rights of international labor migrants along global supply chains in South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the Gulf States and Africa. The program, made possible with generous support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, will respond to the increasing needs of people seeking economic opportunities outside of their home countries.

Labor migrants now represent roughly 190 million people, or about 3 percent of the global population. Though international labor migration has traditionally involved the movement of workers from the developing world to industrialized economies, the movement of workers within the developing world is accelerating rapidly. Nonetheless, there are no clear recommendations for how multinational companies can help with research, dialogue and policy on this issue, which is central to their business.

"We will advance the rights of migrants along global supply chains by ensuring that companies have a voice and a platform to bring their influence to public policy and corporate practice," said Chad Bolick, BSR's Director of CSR Strategy.

BSR's work will leverage primary and secondary research, pilot projects and multi-stakeholder strategy sessions with multinational companies, their suppliers in developing countries, policymakers, labor representatives and migrant workers. At the second Global Forum on Migration and Development in Manila in October 2008 (www.gfmd2008.org), BSR will represent the private sector alongside a diverse group of stakeholders. BSR will also issue a trends report that includes initial recommendations for the private sector on protecting the rights of labor migrants.

The project, which commenced in June 2008 and will continue through June 2010, will focus initially on Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Jordan, Malaysia, Mauritius, the Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam. Following the trends report, BSR will launch pilot projects in select countries to test activities aimed at mitigating rights violations, which will run alongside private sector advocacy efforts. In Asia, research efforts will be led by BSR's Asia Director, Jeremy Prepscius; in the United States, advocacy efforts will be led by Tara Rangarajan, BSR's Managing Director of Advisory Services.

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 New York, Paris, Guangzhou, Beijing 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 the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, the Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is affecting children and society.

BSR

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, with offices in Europe and China, 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.

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