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Xenophobia attacks intolerable |
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Written by Tagbo Agbazue
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Tuesday, 20 May 2008 |
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 (Johannesburg) - The xenophobia attacks occurring around and throughout Johannesburg over the past few days are a serious breach of basic human rights norms. Regardless of nationality all people in South Africa have a right to non-discrimination, right to life, liberty and security of person.
A number of organisations involved in the Human rights and Business Project South Africa, including the South African Human Rights Commission have made clear statements denouncing the attacks.
AICC would like to encourage companies to:
- Give a clear signal to its own workers and its wider stakeholders that it does not tolerate any form of hatred, discrimination
- Implement clear policies on non-discrimination and equal treatment
- Treat migrant workers equal to other workers
Why should companies do something?
The company is obliged to comply with national standards and has a (moral) obligation to comply with international standards on non-discrimination.
Other reasons to comply with non-discrimination and equality standards are good reputation of company and products; increased motivation and productivity of workers; understanding of the society in which the company works; license to operate: good relations with community groups, NGOs, unions and other stakeholders; effective risk identification and management; attractive investment climate; contribution to corporate social responsibility and sustainable development.
Please note: AICC can inform companies and civil society organisations on further steps to take to combat discrimination and other human rights violations Contact:
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Stunning milestone in human rights law |
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Written by Dumisa Ntsebeza and Michael Osborne
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Monday, 19 May 2008 |
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This week's refusal by the United States supreme court to hear the appeal of a group of multinational corporations in a class action is of more than usual interest to South Africans. That is because the decision is a major victory for South Africans demanding compensation from the corporations, which they allege aided and abetted apartheid crimes.
The effect of the supreme court's decision is that last October's ruling by the highest New York appellate court in favour of the South Africans will stand, and govern further proceedings in a Manhattan trial court.
Legal experts have hailed the appellate ruling as a stunning milestone in international human rights law. It might change the way multinations do business around the world, by abolishing the impunity they have long enjoyed because most governments have no incentive to pursue them.
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Could SA government reward good business practices with better branding? |
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Written by Matthew Clarke
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Thursday, 15 May 2008 |
(Johannesburg) - The German government has just announced plans to make the country's first trademark for good business behaviour, as a compliment to "Made in Germany' as a respected global brand.
Matthew Clarke of AICC wonders if the same initiative would work in South Africa. "I think it would be an excellent government initiative that recognizes the needs of business and encourages further corporate responsibility initiatives. CSR initiatives still remain underdeveloped, especially when it comes to smaller companies."
The idea of branding corporate social responsibility practices on export products might discourage companies from being "too self satisfied" to learn from other businesses. It might also potentially elevate a company's reputation on a global level.
A potential government corporate social responsibility trademark would cover social and environmental standards, plus good labour practices and governance matters such as anti-corruption policies.
AfricaGrowth.net encourages you to share your thoughts below on an initiative to increase CSR branding.
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Congo outlines $9bn China deal |
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Written by William Wallis
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Wednesday, 14 May 2008 |
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The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has unveiled details of a controversial $9.25bn agreement that pledges millions of tonnes of copper and cobalt to China in exchange for roads, railways and other infrastructure.
The deal, finalised last month, could prove one of Beijing?s most ambitious forays into Africa yet. On paper it secures 10.62m tonnes of copper and 620,000 tonnes of cobalt for resource-hungry Chinese industries, but this is dependent on overcoming operational challenges that are as great as anywhere in Africa.
The deal comes at an uncertain cost to Congo, a country the size of western Europe that has been left, after decades of dictatorship, conflict and political turmoil, with less than 5,000km of tarred roads.
Like many of Beijing?s big state-backed projects in Africa, this one pits a Chinese commercial model for engagement with the continent against the bureaucracy of western development assistance.
The Congo government was at a delicate stage in negotiations to secure a write-off of around $8bn of external debt when news broke last year of its plans to enter a barter agreement with Beijing.
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Halliburton unit's role in Nigeria faces probe |
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Written by Michael Peel & Matthew Green
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Wednesday, 14 May 2008 |
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 US anti-bribery investigators are targeting a former Halliburton subsidiary over its work on a key Royal Dutch Shell project in Nigeria, widening a corruption probe into the country's troubled oil industry.
The US investigation into Halliburton's Nigerian operations - which covers a period when it was headed by Dick Cheney, US vice-president - has uncovered evidence of bribery and is now looking at a range of payments made in a number of countries over the past 20 years, according to the company.
The developments highlight the growing problems the investigation is creating for Halliburton and the western multinationals it has worked for in a nation whose oil industry is plagued by production disruptions and is the focus of increasing competition from Chinese companies.
The US authorities say they have evidence that an agent used by Halliburton's former KBR subsidiary made payments to Nigerian officials in connection with the Shell project, according to a filing made by Halliburton to the US Securities and Exchange Commission at the end of last month. Halliburton and KBR have suspended the agent and another agent who had worked for KBR on "several current projects and on numerous older projects going back to the early 1980s", the filing says.
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