News
14 Case Studies Published
Learn practical solutions for implementing responsible labor: Over the past three years, BSR and its partner organizations in the DR-CAFTA countries have worked with business, government, and civil society to tackle real-life labor issues ranging from child labor to health and safety to worker empowerment. Read the case studies to find practical solutions that improve workers’ lives while increasing competitiveness.
Visit the demonstration projects page.
Case Study Release
Child Labor Eradication in Salvadoran Sugar Production: Learn how BSR and FUNDEMAS partnered with the Asociación Azucarera de El Salvador (AAES) in a project that culminated with the publication of a manual intended to help other companies and industries replicate practices that may prove useful in eradicating child labor.
BSR Presents Public Policy Recommendations to Salvadoran Government
Press release: At an event featuring representatives of government, civil society, and the private sector in San Salvador on December 8, 2009, BSR President and CEO Aron Cramer presented recommendations to El Salvador’s Minister of Labor Vicky de Aviles to help the country strengthen its international competitiveness through responsible labor practices.
How Companies Can Use Public Policies to Enhance Sustainability Initiatives
Report release: A new BSR report advises companies to increase the impact of their sustainability programs by:
• Engaging the public sector and learning about government policies.
• Aligning sustainability efforts with national strategies and local priorities.
• Advocating for public policies that promote corporate responsibility.
Memorandum signed supporting Dominican free trade zone employees
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR LABOR
“Centennial of Juan Bosch’s Birth”
Press Release
May 13, 2009
SET, ADOZONA (Dominican Association of Free Trade Zones), worker unions, and BSR sign memorandum supporting free trade zone employees
The tripartite commission for the well-being of free trade zone workers signed a memorandum of understanding with Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) to implement a project promoting and developing decent work rules for Dominican textile workers.
This memorandum was signed by the Sub-Secretary of State for Labor Julio Sanz, representing the Secretary of State for Labor (SET); Luis Garnier, BSR Regional Manager, Patricia Bobea from ADOZONA, Mayra Jiménez from FUTRAZONA,
Solanyi Concepción from FENATRAZONA, and Ignacio Hernández from FEDOTRAZONA.
Sub-Secretary Sanz said that this effort aims to maintain the free-zone industry as a key factor in the Dominican Republic’s development and to promote decent work so that financial capital, in addition to creating wealth, can help improve employees’ living conditions.
At the same time, BSR’s Regional Manager Luis Garnier highlighted the significance of this endeavor involving three key sectors – government, employers, and employees – to shape their goals in order to play a more proactive role in a development process going beyond mere assistance. Mr. Garnier encouraged all involved to invest time and energy in order to attain success.
According to the memorandum, BSR will provide two consultants for the project. These consultants will advise and support the tripartite commission so that they can develop ways to improve the working conditions of free trade zone employees.
BSR is currently implementing a project entitled “DR-CAFTA Responsible Competitiveness” funded by the U.S. Department of State. As a part of this endeavor, a series of demonstration projects are being conducted in the DR-CAFTA countries in order to explore the relationship between competitiveness and labor responsibility in different industries.
Communications Bureau
Multi-Sector Projects and Social Dialogue Workshop
The Project recently offered this unique workshop in San Salvador, El Salvador, from March 4 to 6. The workshop was the last in a series of 3 workshops aimed at building the capacity of the project’s local partner organizations to work with business, government, labor and civil society leaders in implementing responsible labor in the DR-CAFTA region. Prior workshops were “Introduction to Responsible Labor” and “Consulting Tools and Methodologies.”
Recognizing that making true structural change in labor practices requires engagement with all social sectors – not just the private sector – the “Multi-Sector Projects and Social Dialogue” workshop centered on building understanding of the different sectors and providing tools and methodologies for effective collaboration between sectors. With the participation of eight guest speakers representing business, labor, government, and nonprofits, workshop participants had the opportunity to engage first-hand in multi-sector social dialogue, testing previous assumptions and opening new paths for collaboration on multi-sector projects.
A focal point of the workshop was a multi-sector panel that allowed a representative from each sector to present an overview of his/her sector, the benefits to his/her sector for engaging in multi-sector projects, and the common obstacles his/her sector faces in multi-sector projects. Another unique aspect was the participation of labor leaders during two of the three days, enriching the discussions by providing different context and point of view. Particularly interesting was their contribution to the discussion about freedom of association and collective bargaining, two contentious labor issues in the region.
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