Big business questioned at Labour conference
-29/09/06
Christian campaigners have highl
Big business questioned at Labour conference
-29/09/06
Christian campaigners have highlighted their concerns about harmful business practices at the Labour party conference, which ended yesterday.
Trade Secretary the Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling MP and the vice-president of international mining company Anglo-American Edward Bickham faced questions over corporationsí role in developing countries.
The fringe debate, ëDoes British business help the worldís poorí? attracted a full house, including Labour Party delegates, MPs, and supporters of catholic aid agency CAFOD, Christian Aid and the Christian Socialist Movement, who organised the event together.
CAFOD Private Sector Policy Analyst Anne Lindsay, spoke about the problems that businesses can cause in the developing world and put the spotlight on what the government and businesses need to do to ensure the actions of multinational companies do not harm poor communities, workers and the environment.
Edward Bickham said: “As a big player you have to earn trust and a social licence to operate.” He stressed the importance of communication by all sides, particularly honesty on where they do and do not agree.
He added that multinationals played a vital role in poverty alleviation. He pointed to four key areas that companies need to consider. These included minimising environmental and social impacts, complementing local business and being accountable and open about reporting their activities.
CAFOD’s Anne Lindsay said that a key concern for people living near a vast gold field currently being explored by a subsidiary of Anglo-American ñ AngloGold Ashanti ñ in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was that they did not have enough information about the companyís plans. The company must be open and transparent about its contract and payments to government to alleviate confusion.
She said: “Itís not good enough to rely on companies’ internal policies. We need legal requirements to ensure companiesí act responsibly. With the Company Law Bill going through parliament the government can act right now to strengthen measures to make companies report on environmental and social impact.”
Alistair Darling MP responded that there might be a possibility of changes to legislation to mention explicitly companies’ supply chains in the Company Law Bill.
Darlingís response was prompted by a question by Sharon McClenghan, Christian Aid Policy Analyst. She said that it would be a significant change if companies responsibilities to workers and organisations in their supply chain were included the reporting requirements in the Bill.
Darling was keen to point out the value of campaigning by individuals and impact it has on how British politicians think. He said the pressure is on for governments to show political leadership in making sure trade is pro-development.
He said: “Increasing trade and making poverty history go hand in hand providing itís done properly. Developed countries must be prepared to change their ways.”
The panel faced a range of tough questions from the audience. Marvin Rees, a freelance journalist from Bristol, asked if it was really possible to trust business to deliver the needs of the poor when profit was everything. He said: “Arenít we asking a wolf not to behave like a wolf in a field of sheep.”?
Christian Aid partner Ranjan Panda from Orissa in India accused companies of talking about corporate social responsibility after the damage was done. “They should look at social issues from the beginning of a project ñ industry is being subsidised at the cost of the poor,” he said.
CAFOD also took part in an International Question Time with development secretary Hilary Benn. More than 150 people heard the minister questioned on issues ranging from trade justice and company law to Debt, HIV/Aids, arms, and humanitarian intervention.
Big business questioned at Labour conference
-29/09/06
Christian campaigners have highlighted their concerns about harmful business practices at the Labour party conference, which ended yesterday.
Trade Secretary the Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling MP and the vice-president of international mining company Anglo-American Edward Bickham faced questions over corporationsí role in developing countries.
The fringe debate, ëDoes British business help the worldís poorí? attracted a full house, including Labour Party delegates, MPs, and supporters of catholic aid agency CAFOD, Christian Aid and the Christian Socialist Movement, who organised the event together.
CAFOD Private Sector Policy Analyst Anne Lindsay, spoke about the problems that businesses can cause in the developing world and put the spotlight on what the government and businesses need to do to ensure the actions of multinational companies do not harm poor communities, workers and the environment.
Edward Bickham said: “As a big player you have to earn trust and a social licence to operate.” He stressed the importance of communication by all sides, particularly honesty on where they do and do not agree.
He added that multinationals played a vital role in poverty alleviation. He pointed to four key areas that companies need to consider. These included minimising environmental and social impacts, complementing local business and being accountable and open about reporting their activities.
CAFOD’s Anne Lindsay said that a key concern for people living near a vast gold field currently being explored by a subsidiary of Anglo-American ñ AngloGold Ashanti ñ in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was that they did not have enough information about the companyís plans. The company must be open and transparent about its contract and payments to government to alleviate confusion.
She said: “Itís not good enough to rely on companies’ internal policies. We need legal requirements to ensure companiesí act responsibly. With the Company Law Bill going through parliament the government can act right now to strengthen measures to make companies report on environmental and social impact.”
Alistair Darling MP responded that there might be a possibility of changes to legislation to mention explicitly companies’ supply chains in the Company Law Bill.
Darlingís response was prompted by a question by Sharon McClenghan, Christian Aid Policy Analyst. She said that it would be a significant change if companies responsibilities to workers and organisations in their supply chain were included the reporting requirements in the Bill.
Darling was keen to point out the value of campaigning by individuals and impact it has on how British politicians think. He said the pressure is on for governments to show political leadership in making sure trade is pro-development.
He said: “Increasing trade and making poverty history go hand in hand providing itís done properly. Developed countries must be prepared to change their ways.”
The panel faced a range of tough questions from the audience. Marvin Rees, a freelance journalist from Bristol, asked if it was really possible to trust business to deliver the needs of the poor when profit was everything. He said: “Arenít we asking a wolf not to behave like a wolf in a field of sheep.”?
Christian Aid partner Ranjan Panda from Orissa in India accused companies of talking about corporate social responsibility after the damage was done. “They should look at social issues from the beginning of a project ñ industry is being subsidised at the cost of the poor,” he said.
CAFOD also took part in an International Question Time with development secretary Hilary Benn. More than 150 people heard the minister questioned on issues ranging from trade justice and company law to Debt, HIV/Aids, arms, and humanitarian intervention.