March 2012

Contact Paul Wenman (Oxford) James Pearson (Hong Kong) China Watch info sourced from our China partner SynTao and CSR China

Remove from mailing list.

 

 

 

 ESG Update

 www.investassure.net

InvestAssure monitors the web for incidents and allegations of unethical corporate behaviour and poor environmental, health and safety performance in emerging economies. Our monthly Update provides insights into events and trends for investors and supply chain managers.

 Big rise in Labour Disputes in China

 February Sample* ESG Alerts from Asia

Allegations relating to poor labour conditions in China more than doubled in Dec-Feb, +120% compared with our long-term monitoring record. This reflects an increase in disputes relating to wages, overtime and layoffs. We also saw more reports in China in Dec-Feb on the environment (+35%), but fewer reports on occupational H&S (-25%) and corruption and fraud (-50%)

Santos, Australia—reveals Eastern Star drilling pollution record

Nanguo Garment, Cambodia—mass fainting on the job

Suzhou Nuo Sida Electronic, China—child labour allegation

Baoshan Iron & Steel, China— six died in gas leak at subsidiary

A&W Woods, China—accused of selling toxic wooden flooring

Tata Steel, India—under fire for hazardous waste dumping

Vedanta Resources, India—protests met with violent response

APP, Indonesia—Greenpeace allege illegal cutting and pulping of ramin

Morobe Mining, Papua New Guinea—community seeks compensation

Ricoh, Thailand—54 workers dismissed for joining trade union

* Full InvestAssure reports provide more detailed alert descriptions

In February we recorded 92 fatalities in 12 incidents in the mining, chemicals, machinery manufacturing, electricity, petroleum and iron & steel sectors.

Environmental alerts across Asia were 50% up in February compared with our long-term average.

February total risk alerts 87

InvestAssure universe 2.2%

Recommendations:

·   engagement 31

·   urgent action 11

Dec-Feb total risk alerts 210

 ESG Risk Alerts

China Watch

China’s 5-year plan highlights sustainability and reduction of rural-urban inequalities

Plan to cut air pollution by fine particulates by 2020.

Heavy metal pollution to be cut from major industries.

Labour union contacts to go public

Fortune China Top 100 Socially Responsible Companies

Chinese Multinationals improve corporate citizenship - WEF and Boston Consulting report