The Sustainability Brief

EP.16 The Dangers of Inaction: A Call for the EU Just Transition Directive

The conversation delves into the critical implications of unmanaged social transitions, highlighting the potential for deepened inequalities and the rise of political extremism, particularly the far right, as a consequence of inaction. We unpack the Proposal for a European Just Transitions Directive: [https://www.progressivepolicies.eu/en/activities/proposal-for-a-european-just-transitions-directive]This publication, commissioned by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, sets out a full legal proposal for a European Directive on Just Transitions. It is designed to guide policymakers in their reflections on how best anticipate, manage and sometimes accelerate the profound changes ahead. The proposed Directive takes a bold, multi-pronged approach. It secures workers’ rights, drives coherent public policies, and embeds clear transition plans. At its core, it empowers workers and trade unions to shape the transition — ensuring that no one is left behind. Takeaways * If we leave the situation as it is, which is a non-managed transition. * We are to find ourselves with a serious social crisis. * Inequalities deepened at a level that we have not seen in modern times. * That is socially dangerous. * That is politically dangerous. * I am personally convinced that this is a key driver for the rise of the far right. * This situation is prevalent in Europe and everywhere in the world. * The need for managed transitions is crucial. * Ignoring these issues can lead to severe consequences. * Proactive measures are necessary to prevent social unrest. Séverine Picard is a lawyer and a trade unionist. She founded in 2021 Progressive Policies, a research and training consultancy specialised in labour rights and industrial relations. Séverine Picard has nearly two decades of experience in European and global policies. From 2018 to 2021, she was Senior Policy Adviser at the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC). From 2007 to 2018, she was Senior Legal Adviser at the European Trade Union Confederation (the ETUC). Her main areas of expertise include corporate tax, competition policies, labour law, company law and EU institutional matters. She previously worked at the European Parliament and in the NGO sector in a research role related to the European Union.

EP.15: Why Human Rights Due Diligence Belongs in ISSB Standards with Joanne Bauer

In this episode, Aleksandra Lasota interviews Joanne Bauer about her report A Roadmap for Integrating Human Rights into ISSB Standards [https://rightscolab.org/a-roadmap-for-integrating-human-rights-due-diligence-into-issb-standards/] on integrating human rights into the ISSB standards. They discuss the increasing trend of risk-based divestments, the importance of human rights due diligence, and the challenges of aligning ISSB standards with human rights metrics. The conversation highlights the financial materiality of human rights issues and the need for interoperability between different sustainability frameworks. Takeaways * Risk-based divestments have increased significantly since 2012. * Human rights due diligence is essential for identifying financial risks. * The ISSB aims to create a universal standard for sustainability disclosures. * Stakeholder engagement is crucial for effective human rights assessments. * Financial materiality is a key concern for investors in sustainability. * The integration of human rights into ISSB standards is still a work in progress. * Companies must assess human rights risks throughout their value chain. * Interoperability between sustainability standards is increasingly important. * Human rights impacts can have significant financial implications for companies. * Tools for human rights due diligence are emerging to aid investors. Chapters 00:00 The Rise of Risk-Based Divestments 02:57 Joanne Bauer's Journey in Human Rights and Sustainability 05:47 Integrating Human Rights into ISSB Standards 08:52 The Financial Materiality of Human Rights Due Diligence 11:37 Challenges in Current ISSB Standards 14:55 The Need for Comprehensive Human Rights Policies 18:00 Bridging Environmental and Social Due Diligence Joanne Bauer is a Cofounder of Rights CoLab and Adjunct Professor of International Affairs at Columbia University where she teaches Corporations and Human Rights. At Rights CoLab she leads initiatives on better integrating human rights into sustainability standards and providing other tools and guidance to make investors better stewards of human rights. She is also a Cofounder of the Taskforce on Inequality- and Social-related Financial Disclosures (TISFD), one of several incubated Rights CoLab projects to develop rights-based solutions to systemic problems. She has directed the Business and Human Rights Program at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia, cofounded the Teaching Business and Human Rights Forum, a global initiative involving about 400 professors of business and human rights in nearly 40 countries, and was the Director of Studies at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs.  She is the author of numerous articles and blog posts and two edited volumes, East Asian Challenge for Human Rights (Cambridge University Press,1999) and Forging Environmentalism: Justice, Livelihoods, and Contest Environments (Routledge, 2006),

EP.14: Innovations in Labor Rights: The Verite Approach

In this conversation, Aleksandra Lasota interviews Quinn, a senior regional lead at Verite, about his extensive experience in human rights and labor rights, particularly in the coffee sector. They discuss the challenges faced by workers, including the impact of piece rates on workers (see Quinn's white paper [https://verite.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/white-paper-piece-rate-pay-coffee-sector.pdf]on that); the innovative COFFEE project [https://verite.org/coffee-project/pilot-projects/]Verite is implementing to improve labor conditions, and the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders to address complex labor issues. The conversation highlights the need for sustainable practices in the coffee industry and the role of corporate responsibility in ensuring fair labor rights. Takeaways * Quinn's journey into human rights began in Guatemala. * Verite plays a crucial role in promoting fair labor worldwide. * Decent labor is essential for human dignity. * The coffee project aims to improve labor conditions and productivity. * Innovative tools like lonas can enhance coffee harvesting efficiency. * Piece rate pay has both benefits and challenges for workers. * Child labor is often a consequence of low wages in agriculture. * Future coffee supply is at risk due to labor shortages. * Collective action is necessary to solve labor issues in the supply chain. * Corporate responsibility is key to ensuring fair labor practices. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Conversation 02:17 Quinn's Journey into Human Rights 04:40 Verite's Role in Labor Rights 06:54 The Coffee Project: Improving Labor Conditions 07:34 Innovative Tools for Coffee Harvesting 17:55 Challenges of Piece Rate Pay 24:16 Quality vs. Quantity in Coffee Production 28:23 Engaging Corporations in Sustainable Practices 34:52 The Importance of Collective Action Quinn Kepes [https://verite.org/our-people/quinn-kepes/]is Regional Lead for the Americas at Verité, an independent non-profit organisation advancing fair labour worldwide. Over nearly two decades with Verité, he has worked across Latin America and beyond on issues of labour rights, trafficking, human security and organised crime, with a particular focus on agriculture and coffee. Quinn leads Verité’s work in the Western Hemisphere, leveraging his extensive expertise in desk and field research, project implementation, and Human Rights Due Dilligence. He oversees programming that helps various stakeholders develop capabilities to detect and prevent child labor and forced labor throughout the Americas. Prior to becoming Verité’s Senior Regional Lead for the Americas, he led its Worker Agency, Voice and Empowerment (WAVE) and Applied Research for Evidence and Action (AREA) practice groups. He has authored over 30 published reports and articles for Verité, in addition to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Trafficking and Contemporary Forms of Slavery, the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, Roast Magazine, and Daily Coffee News. Quinn is the recipient of the 2024 award for combatting human trafficking from the International Center for the Promotion of Human Rights (CIPDH), under the auspices of UNESCO.

EP.13: Navigating Business and Human Rights in the Middle East: Key Insights from Krystel Basel

Summary: The conversation with Krystel Basel explores the significant geopolitical shifts occurring in the region, particularly focusing on labor reforms in Qatar. While legal changes like the repeal of the Kafala system are underway, challenges remain in the practical implementation of these reforms, including issues like unpaid wages and ineffective grievance mechanisms. Takeaways The region is experiencing a significant geopolitical shift. Qatar has already reformed its labor laws, including the Kafala system. Other countries, like Saudi Arabia, are following suit with amendments. Despite legal reforms, practical challenges persist in labor practices. Unpaid wages and late payments are still common issues. Informal work continues to exist despite the reforms. Grievance mechanisms for workers are not functioning optimally. The shift is not just legal but also involves business perspectives. Countries are increasingly aware of the need for labor reform. The journey towards effective labor reform is ongoing and complex. Krystel Basel is a senior expert in business, human rights, and sustainability, advising both private and public sectors globally with a special focus on the MENA region. She recently founded BHR MENA, an organization dedicated to advancing responsible business conduct and human-rights due diligence across the Middle East and North Africa. With a background as a practicing lawyer in the region, she brings deep insight into the fast-evolving legal and regulatory landscape and how it shapes responsible business conduct. Her work spans the design of corporate strategies, human-rights due diligence, and impact assessments, as well as training and capacity-building to help organizations integrate sustainability into their operations. Krystel has navigated complex, high-stakes engagements with NGOs, UN agencies, and state actors, and was a featured speaker at the 2023 UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, where she shared her perspective on opportunities and challenges for advancing sustainability in the Middle East.

EP.12: A New Chapter for Refugees in Thailand: Employer Considerations

In my latest conversation with Khun Mic Chawaratt, Regional Manager at the International Detention Coalition and long-time advocate for refugee and stateless persons’ rights, we explored a milestone moment for Thailand: for the first time in over forty years, refugees living in camps along the Thai–Myanmar border are being granted the right to work. This decision opens a new chapter: not only for 44,000 refugees of working age, but also for Thai businesses now able to employ them. Yet, as Khun Mic reminds us, turning policy into practice will require careful navigation, collaboration, and a shared commitment to fairness. Mic Chawaratt Chawarangkul is the Asia-Pacific Regional Manager at the International Detention Coalition (IDC). Before joining IDC, Mic held various roles within the humanitarian, human rights, and development sectors across Asia and Africa. He co-founded the Coalition for the Rights of Refugees and Stateless Persons (CRSP) and the Thailand Migration Reform Consortium (TMR). Mic played a critical role in shaping Thailand’s policy to end the immigration detention of children, promoting the refugee right to work and advancing the National Screening Mechanism for refugees in Thailand. He has served as a member of two Parliamentary House Sub-Committees focused on refugees and irregular migration, where he has championed reforms in Thailand’s migration governance. Additionally, he advises the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Human Rights, as well as the Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Border Affairs, National Strategy and National Reform, offering vital analysis and amendments to the migration legislative framework in Thailand.