Who Pays For The Crisis?

This portal focuses on the key intersection between supply chain resilience, purchasing practices and worker rights.

Migrant workers in global supply chains

The ILO estimates there are over 169 million international migrant workers globally. In some regions and particular sectors, migrants make up the majority or a significant minority of the workforce. In each of the Gulf states, for example, migrants make up between 60 and 95% of the working population. Northern, Southern and Western Europe, and North America are also key receiving regions for migrant workers. Globally, in sectors such as construction, agriculture, transport and health care, migrants make a vital contribution. However, while labour migration brings economic, social, and cultural benefits to migrants, and to their countries of origin and destination, migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Such labour violations begin during recruitment, when many workers are charged extortionate or illegal recruitment fees, while employers fail to take responsibility for covering the cost of recruitment (Employer Pays Principle), to detect and reimburse payments. This can lead to deleterious human rights impacts, including debt bondage for individuals, and negatively impact on countries where remittances form a large contribution to GDP, such as Nepal. Recruitment agencies may also promise good working conditions that do not materialise upon arrival. Low-income migrants are particularly over-represented in sectors with high degrees of informality that lack labour rights protection. Further, migrant workers may have limited knowledge of their labour rights in or the language of the host nation, key barriers to support and remedy.

KnowTheChain

KnowTheChain is a resource for companies and investors to understand and address forced labour risks within their supply chains.

Shared prosperity models & Indigenous Peoples' leadership for a just transition

News and resources from Indigenous Peoples Rights International and Business & Human Rights Resource Centre exploring the significant opportunity of Indigenous co-ownership of renewable energy projects, for an energy transition that is fast, just and equitable.

Just energy transition principles for human rights in business and investment

Extractives & Transition Minerals

Human rights impacts of the extractive industries and industry-specific initiatives to improve companies’ human rights practices

Digital Freedom

Latest news and developments on declining digital freedom and key reports, guidance and tools

Gig Economy

Human rights implications and legal and policy rights protection frameworks for gig economy workers

Automation

Impacts of growing automation and mechanisation on work and human rights

National & Regional Developments on mHRDD

Find initiatives tracking and analysing legal developments

Companies & Investors in Support of mHREDD

List of large businesses, associations & investors with public statements & endorsements in support of mandatory due diligence regulation

Guidance for Governments on Human Rights Due Diligence Policies

Explore resources and materials

Tools & Guidance

Tools and guidance to strengthen connections between gender, business and human rights.

Research & Analysis

Unpack the gendered dimensions of different issues

Webinars, Videos & Podcasts

Watch and listen to different issues related to gender, business and human rights

UNGPs Guidance & Implementation

See how companies and governments should implement the UNGPs

Background & History of the Guiding Principles

Find out how the UN Guiding Principles came to exist

Text of the Guiding Principles

The full text of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights