Best practice & Ethics
Car industry cooperates to enhance working conditions
Leading auto companies and their suppliers – including
Ford,
General Motors and
Honda – have begun a project to promote
decent working conditions for the millions of workers involved the car
production worldwide.
The project has already established a set of guiding
statements to create a uniform industry approach on matters including child
labour, forced labour, freedom of association, harassment and working hours.
J Scot Sharlan, executive director of the
Automotive Industry Action Group –
which is coordinating the project – said the scheme’s participants are currently
working on ways to offer country-specific training, which will focus on
educating suppliers in local labour laws and expectations regarding working
conditions.
The initiative was applauded by members of the
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.
Father Seamus Finn, of the Missionary
Oblates of Mary Immaculate, said it makes sense for companies to collaborate
on improving working conditions, as it means one company will not be put at a
competitive disadvantage for taking leadership.
Links
Ford
General Motors
Honda
Automotive Industry Action Group
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
January, 2007 |
