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10 July 2019
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LEAD STORY


France: Samsung faces charges over alleged labour abuses in factories in Asia

Samsung; Malaysian Reserve; Action Aid; AssoSherpa

  • Two NGOs accused Samsung France of misleading advertising for making ethical commitments to workers' rights whilst allegedly abusing labour rights in its factories in China, South Korea & Vietnam
  • Alleged abuses include child labour & unsafe working conditions, including the use of toxic chemicals without adequate protection 
  • Samsung provided a response & statement to the allegations
  • See summary profile of the legal proceedings
Photo credit: Raysonho
See Company Responses & Non-Responses

INTERNATIONAL


NGOs criticise EU Mercosur trade deal for ignoring deteriorating human rights & environmental situation in Brazil

Slow Food Europe; Fern

  • 340 NGOs had called on EU to halt negotiations on deal with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay & Paraguay, and ensure Brazilian goods sold in Europe would not contribute to deforestation or human rights violations
New EU Vietnam trade deal includes labour & environmental protection rules; NGOs criticise investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system

Asia Times; EU Observer

  • Investor-state dispute settlements have been criticised for allowing companies to undermine national regulations, including on labour rights & the environment
Fast Retailing & UN Women join forces to promote women's rights in apparel industry in Bangladesh, China & Vietnam

Fashion United


Facebook releases update on civil rights audit & announces civil rights taskforce; NGOs call for additional action

CNN Business; Facebook; Medium


Commentary: Solutions to climate change must place people & fundamental rights at the core

Amnesty Intl., Greenpeace Intl. & 13 others

AFRICA


Uganda: MP alleges Marphie International Recruitment Agency is complicit in trafficking 23 girls to Jordan; includes company comments

Daily Monitor


Zimbabwe: Judge orders Lynx Mine to pay 200 workers 13 months of unpaid wages

News Day


Tanzania: RAID report alleges Acacia Mining's grievance mechanism at North Mara mine disempowers victims & subjects them to humiliating process

RAID; North Mara Gold Mining Limited

  • Acacia's subsidiary operating the mine responded & denied the allegations, to which RAID issued a rejoinder

AMERICAS


Mexico: 250 communities to be relocated as part of Mayan Train project, a proposed 1000 mile railroad running through the Yucatán peninsula

Prensa Latina


Brazil: Supreme Court blocks Bolsorano's plan to transfer power over indigenous lands to the agriculture ministry

Al Jazeera

 

USA: More than 200 companies sign Supreme Court brief in support of LGBTQ workers, say ending discrimination is good for workers, business & economy

NBC News


USA: Appeals court dismisses energy company’s libel suit against environmental activist, says suit threatened activist’s freedom of expression

Associated Press

ASIA & PACIFIC


Cambodia: Union alleges Quint Major Industrial unfairly sacked two members following dispute with factory union

Khmer Times

  • We invited Quint Major Industrial & VF Corporation to respond; they did not
China: Residents protest planned construction of waste-to-energy plant in Wuhan, raise concerns over proximity of plant & environmental impact

Diplomat


Australia: MP who introduced New South Wales Modern Slavery Act disappointed by delayed implementation of law

Sydney Morning Herald

  • NSW Act goes further than federal act by establishing an anti-slavery commissioner & outlining penalties for non-compliance

EUROPE & CENTRAL ASIA


NGOs file OECD complaint against Dutch bank ING for financing companies allegedly linked to human rights abuses in palm oil sector

Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands); ING Group

  • Complaint names Noble Group, Bolloré Group/Socfin and Wilmar International, and relates to allegations of child labour, deforestation & land grabbing
  • Includes statement from ING bank & links to previous comments from companies
France: Analysis of duty of vigilance plans highlights challenges companies face in applying the law

edh - businesses for human rights


Switzerland: Public Eye issues rejoinder to companies' responses to report alleging practices of agricultural commodities sector hurt human rights

MIDDLE EAST & N. AFRICA


Qatar: Eliminating worker recruitment fees would cost companies just 1% of total construction project, according to analysis 

NYU Stern Center for Business & Human Rights


UAE: Hundreds of construction workers on Reem Island strike over unpaid wages

The National (UAE)
Non-responses

ANNOUNCEMENTS


Survey from Global Child Forum on top ten children’s rights & business issues that require urgent attention from companies (deadline: 11 July)

EVENTS

  • Mission & Money Aligned: Charities & Responsible Investment (11 July, London)
  • Webinar on Equator Principles IV: A Human Rights Perspective (23 July, online)
Details of these & other future events can be found here. Please send relevant event information to Maja Janjic: janjic@business-humanrights.org.

JOBS


Vacancies at the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre: Other vacancies:
Further details & other recently posted jobs available here. To submit a new job announcement in business & human rights please go here.
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We take no position on views by commentators, organisations & companies in the materials in this email: http://business-humanrights.org/en/about-us/disclaimer

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