Nieuwe publicaties
Up one levelTemporary agency work in the electronics sector
Discriminatory practices against agency workers
Multi-stakeholder initiatives
This guide is intended for professionals working for CSOs and participating in MSIs. It provides strategic perspectives for action and highlights critical issues to address when participating in MSIs. It is based on extensive research and experience gathered by SOMO over the years.
OECD Watch Quarterly Case Update March 2012
The highlights of this Quarterly Case Update include new OECD Guidelines complaints filed against Centerra Gold, Shell, Sjovik, Norwegian Church Aid, Statoil, Innospec, Xstrata, and TetraBOOST. Specific Instances recently concluded with an agreement between the parties include the case against Nidera regarding human rights issues at Argentine corn field operations, several cases regarding child labour and cotton trading in Uzbekistan, and the case against Cermaq for its salmon farming practices. The Norwegian NCP furthermore issued a final statement in the Intex Philippines nickel mining case.
Still 'captured by cotton'?
In this briefing paper, SOMO and the India Committee of the Netherlands, give a short update on their upcoming reserach following the 2011 Sumanagli report. This report uncovered troubling evidence that products for big garment brands and retailers were being made by girls under exploitative working conditions in Southern India.
Series for Responsible Investor (RI) Engagement: NGO Priorities for Mobile Network Operators
OECD Watch Quarterly Case Update November 2011
The highlights of this Quarterly Case Update include developments in OECD Guidelines cases filed against among others Xstrata Copper regarding impacts on periglacial environments in Argentina, Barrick Gold regarding human rights abuses at its Porgera JV Mine in Papua New Guinea, Royal Dutch Shell regarding its disclosure of oil spills in Nigeria, Arcelor Mittal for mismanagement of the community fund in Liberia and Intex resources regarding its nickel mining practices in the Philippines.
Protection of clinical trial subjects in countries outside the EU
As medicines intended for the European market are increasingly tested on clinical trial participants outside the EU in low and middle income countries, European institutions have a moral and legal responsibility to protect their rights. Many cases of violations of ethical principles and guidelines have been reported. Therefore, in this briefing paper, Wemos and SOMO call upon the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Medicines Agency to take measures at the following three levels: 1) Vigorously pursue the integration of ethical principles into EMA procedures, 2) Increase transparency in clinical trials outside the EU and 3) Strengthen capacity in low and middle income countries.
Aspectos de género en la industria de indumentaria latinoamericana
La fuerza laboral de la industria de la vestimenta mundialestá altamente feminizada. La gran mayoría (aproximadamente un 85%) de los trabajadores empleados en este sector son mujeres. En general, la industria de la vestimenta es uno de los sectores con los salarios más bajos y ofrece malas condiciones de trabajo. Dentro del sector, también hay una clara segregación por género conforme a la cual las mujeres se encuentran en los trabajos que requieren menor nivel de calificación, los peor pagados y los más precarios. Cuando las tareas se vuelven más avanzadas o cuando se requiere ejercer la autoridad, se tiende a emplear a hombres. Como a menudo en la industria de la vestimenta es la mujer la que soporta las peores condiciones, es importante analizar porqué existe y persiste esta situación.
OECD Watch Quartely Case Update June 2011
The highlights of this Quarterly Case Update include new OECD Guidelines complaints filed against among others Barrick Gold Corporation alleging violations of disclosure and environmental provisions in Argentina as well as environmental and human rights violations in Papua new Guinea, Xstrata Copper regarding impacts on periglacial environments in Argentina, United Water alleging labour and environmental violations in the company's US operations, Usibelli Coal Mine and J-Power for alleged human rights violations in Alaska, CRH alleging human rights and sustainable development violations in its operations in the Occupied Palestine Territories, and Mopani Copper Mines Plc for manipulating its financial accounts in order to evade taxation
OECD Watch statement on the update of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
The updated OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, adopted on 25 May 2011, introduce important new provisions on human rights, workers and wages, and climate change. OECD Watch's “Statement on the update of the Guidelines” nevertheless concludes that procedural shortcomings remain, and therefore the Guidelines potential to become an effective and credible instrument for corporate accountability remains in question.
Summary Banking Sector Liberalisation in Uganda
Summary of the research report Banking Sector Liberalisation in Uganda: Process, Results and Policy Options.
Summary Banking Sector Liberalisation in South Korea
Summary of the research report South Korea’s Experience with Banking Sector Liberalisation.
Gender aspects in the Latin American garment industry
The global garment industry labour force is highly feminised. The vast majority (about 85%1) of workers employed in this sector are women. In general, the garment industry is one of the lowest-paid sectors and offers poor working conditions. Within the sector there is also a clear gender segregation whereby women are mostly found in the lowest-skilled, lowest-paid and most precarious jobs. When tasks get more advanced or where the exercise of authority is required men tend to be employed. As it is often the women in the garment industry that endure the worst conditions it is important to analyse why this situation exists and persists.
OECD Watch Quarterly Case Update March 2011
The highlights of this Quarterly Case Update include new OECD Guidelines complaints filed against 2 cotton traders from the UK, 4 holding companies that finance Cameroonian palm oil plantation SOCAPALM, ArcelorMittal Liberia, and Royal Dutch Shell for making false, misleading and incomplete statements about incidents of sabotage to its operations in the Niger Delta. Specific Instances recently closed include the complaint against Triumph, the complaint against BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and Airbus and the lengthy case against BP for its involvement in the BTC Pipeline running through Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
