Business Briefing on Responsible Recruitment

IHRB and Verité, in association with ETI and SEDEX, are convening a business briefing on responsible recruitment. The event will address this emerging issue and provide a forum to discuss risks, challenges and solutions.

Where: Herringham Hall, Regents University, Regents Park, London NW1 4NS

When Tuesday 28th June 2016, 9.30am - 12.30pm

Who should attend?

The event will be of interest to companies operating in a variety of sectors, in particular individuals from the following functions: 

• Procurement and supply chain managers
• Corporate responsibility and sustainability managers
• Human resources managers 

Why does the issue matter?

Migrant workers are a ubiquitous feature of the global economy. The ILO estimates that there are 150 million migrants in the global workforce. Nevertheless, these workers – and in particular low income migrants – are often among the most vulnerable to exploitation and human rights abuses.

The vulnerability of low income migrant workers is often exacerbated by excessive debt burdens accrued through recruitment fees. These fees, paid to agents to secure employment abroad, often represent many months’ salary and can trap migrant workers in debt bondage, understood as an indicator of forced labour.

Forward-thinking companies are extending their supplier policies and due diligence in labour supply chains to include a focus on how migrant workers are recruited and hired. Some are ensuring that all costs of recruitment are borne, not by the worker, but by the employer, known as The Employer Pays Principle.

RSVP

The event is free to attend but participants must register in advance by emailing neill.wilkins@ihrb.org

Agenda

09:00 - 09:30)  Registration & Networking

09:30 - 09:45)  Panel 1: Framing the Issue - Why is responsible recruitment an issue for business?

• Neill Wilkins, IHRB: Migrant workers in supply chains and the case for responsible recruitment
• Justin Bettey, Sedex: Undertaking due diligence on supply chains for labour
• Helen McTaggart, M&S: Committing to responsible recruitment and steps to implementation

10:45 - 11:15)  Break

11:15 - 12:15)  Panel 2: Solutions - How are companies and stakeholders tackling these challenges?

• Cindy Berman, ETI: Where does ethical recruitment fit with corporate human rights due diligence? The importance of stakeholder engagement and worker voice in preventing modern slavery
• Phillip Hunter, Verite: Challenges and good practice in assessing risks in labour supply chains and establishing protection mechanisms for migrant workers
• Simon Henzell-Thomas, IKEA: Ensuring responsible recruitment and implementing the Employer Pays Principle

12:15 - 12:30)  Wrap up & Next Steps

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