The Importance of Human Rights in the Business World.......!
The Importance of Human Rights in the Business World.......!
The Importance of Human Rights in the Business World.......!
The Importance of Human Rights in the
Business
World
Introduction
Human rights refer to the fundamental rights that
every human being is born with. They are the basic pillars of human morality. Today,
industry, trade and multinational corporations are growing rapidly all over the
world. In the wake of this growth, a situation is emerging where human rights
are somewhat hidden. Since business corporations carry out various activities,
their actions can directly and indirectly have an impact on human rights.
Human rights include fundamental rights such as
life, liberty, education, work, equality, freedom of speech, security, and
self-determination. The “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” published by
the United Nations in 1948 is an important document on human rights.
The Business World and Its
Development
Multinational business corporations play a huge
role in today’s world. Technological development, global trade agreements, and decentralized
management of workers have brought about major changes in the business world.
Due to this, the chances of workers’ rights being ignored are increasing.
Business and Human Rights
Businesses and industries directly affect human
rights in the environment in which they operate, employment opportunities,
wages, and safety. Exploitation of workers, overwork, child labor, sexual
harassment, and lack of safety in the workplace are some of the major rights
violations.
For example, workers in factories are entitled to
fair wages, safe working conditions, rest periods, and non-discriminatory
treatment. It is a well-established fact that without these, a business cannot
succeed.
Important
human rights violations
1. Child labor: In
many countries, businesses employ children for low wages.
2. Sexual and
gender-based harassment: Lack of safety in workplaces were
women work.
3. Wage
exploitation: Failure to pay adequate wages for work.
4. Workplace
safety: Lack of necessary safety equipment for workers.
5. Exploitation of
resources: Excessive use of natural resources in a way that
harms the environment.
Responsibility
of businesses
Businesses must
follow the following three key principles:
1. Respect for
human rights – No action should violate human rights.
2. Action to
prevent violations – Develop policies that protect workers’ rights.
3. Action to take
responsibility for violations – Take appropriate remedial action if
mistakes are made.
International
Initiatives
1. UN Guiding
Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011) – An international
guide for business enterprises.
2. OECD Guidelines
for Multinational Enterprises – Guidelines for multinational
enterprises.
3. ILO (International
Labor Organization) Principles – Principles such as fair
working hours and fair wages for workers.
Business
becoming friendly
In recent times,
some companies have realized their social responsibility and taken the
following steps:
·
Welfare
expenses for workers
·
Environmental
protection measures
·
Voluntary
social work
·
Fair
trade agreements
·
We
should also pay attention to whether the companies from which we buy goods and
services respect human rights.
·
We
should respond on social media and speak out against human rights violations.
·
Government
and legal institutions should firmly establish their control.
Why
should businesses respect human rights?
1. Identity of
conduct and ethics:
• When a company
respects human rights, it is seen as aware of its social
responsibility. This creates a good corporate
reputation.
2. Public
trust:
• Companies that
pay their employees well, without being forced to work, build
public
trust. This leads to business growth.
3. Compliance
with the laws of the relevant countries:
• Many countries
have legal protections for human rights. Companies that violate
those
laws can be punished.
4. Worker
productivity:
• When a worker is
respected, his or her work and commitment increase. This also increases the
company's productivity.
Human rights violations
1. Legal actions:
• Production by children who are above the minimum
age for employment,
making
them work without rest during working hours are human rights
violations.
When these are detected, the company will face legal action.
2. Loss of customers:
• If information is released that a company is
violating human rights, people will
not buy
the company's products. This can lead to a decline in business.
3. Widespread reactions:
• Human rights violations can be widely exposed
through social media and the
media.
This tarnishes the company's reputation.
Important issues related to human
rights:
1. Child labor:
• Even today, children are employed in many
factories. This deprives them of
them right
to education.
2. Sexual harassment and violence:
• It is very worrying that incidents of sexual
exploitation and intimidation occur in
workplaces
where women and girls work.
3. Discrimination based on caste and religion:
• When there is social discrimination in employment
or wage conditions, it affects
human rights.
Solutions and ways of improvement:
1. Human rights policies for companies:
• Every company should develop policies that
protect human rights.
2. Awareness for employees:
• Employees should be provided with continuous
training on human rights.
3. Auditing bodies:
• Companies should have bodies that directly and
indirectly monitor the
protection
of human rights.
4. Workers' councils and associations:
• Trade unions and employee groups play an
important role in protecting the
rights of
employees.
Global initiatives:
The United Nations (UN) is taking important steps
to protect human rights. In particular, the UN Guiding Principles on Business
and Human Rights guide global companies to avoid human rights violations. Many
companies are following these principles.
Business cannot be seen as just a profit-making
sector. It directly affects the lives of people. Therefore, human rights must
be at the heart of the business world. No company that does not respect these
rights can survive and grow. For the progress of a society, even for the
development of a country, it is necessary to respect and protect human rights
in the business world.
The importance of human rights in the
business world today
The business world of the 21st century is
undergoing major changes due to globalization, digital transformation and
economic challenges. In this context, the protection of human rights has
received a critical focus. Companies are forced to adopt a "Triple Bottom
Line" approach that includes human rights, social justice and
environmental sustainability, rather than focusing solely on their profits.
According to World Bank data, 67% of global
businesses have begun to implement policies on human rights and social
responsibility by 2023. This indicates that the future of business will be
intertwined with humanistic values.
Human Rights – Definition and
Historical Background
The "Universal Declaration of Human
Rights" (UDHR), proclaimed by the United Nations in 1948,
provided the basic framework for human rights. It defines 30 rights, including
the main rights that directly affect the business world:
1. Right to work (International Labor Organization
- ILO Charter)
2. Equal rights (non-discrimination on the basis of
sex, race, religion)
3. Right to a standard of living (fair wages, safe
working environment)
4. Right to privacy and data protection
(regulations such as GDPR)
The consequences when businesses do not respect
these rights are severe. For example, the 2013 Rana Plaza building collapse in
Bangladesh, which killed 1,134 workers, made the world aware of the dangers of
business models that ignore human rights.
1. Labor Rights
According to the ILO, all workers must be
guaranteed the following rights:
Protection from Child Labor - According to UNICEF,
160 million children were employed in hard labor in the world in 2022.
Chocolate companies like Nestle and Hershey have introduced strict policies to
prevent the use of child labor by cocoa farmers.
Fair wages - Principles such as minimum wage, Equal
Pay for Equal Work. For example, in countries like Denmark, the gender pay gap
is only 5%.
Safe working environment - An environment free from
aggression, sexual abuse, and the harmful effects of chemicals.
2. Consumer Rights
Quality products - In 2021, Johnson & Johnson
was found to have contained hazardous chemicals in its cleaning products and
paid a $6.3 billion fine.
No false advertising - Tesla was fined $1 million
in 2022 for falsely advertising "full autonomous driving".
3. Social responsibility and environmental rights
Sustainable raw materials - Adidas plans to use
100% recycled plastic by 2025.
Carbon neutrality - Amazon is committed to
achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2040.
Consequences of Human Rights Violations
| Violation Type | Example | Consequences |
| Labor Exploitation | Working Conditions at
Foxconn (Apple) China | Tensions, Production Delays |
| Environmental Damage | Severance Oil Spill in
Ecuador | $9.5 Billion Penalty |
| Data Privacy | Facebook-Cambridge Analytica | $5
Billion Fine |
Initiatives Promoting Human Rights
1. UN Global Compact:
10,000+
companies have joined.
2. B Corp Certification:
Companies
like Ben & Jerry's, Paddocks have been certified.
3. Legal changes:
- EU to
introduce forced labor ban in 2023
- India to
mandate CSR spending (Companies Act 2013)
4. Future challenges
AI and
job losses: World Economic Forum estimates 85 million jobs will be
replaced
by machines by 2025.
-
Climate change: 200 million people could become climate migrants by 2030.
5. Technological advances and human rights
Technological
advances in the digital age have created new challenges and
opportunities
for human rights:
Artificial
intelligence and data privacy - In 2023, the European Union introduced
the AI
law, which is designed to protect human rights in AI systems. Companies
like
Google and Meta are currently implementing strict human rights reviews of
data
collection practices.
Remote
work and labor rights*: 62% of companies have adopted a hybrid work
model
since COVID-19. While this has led to work-life balance, there have been
complaints that some companies are hiring
workers outside their normal hours.
5. Human rights in developing countries
While
human rights are relatively well protected in developed countries, many
challenges
still exist in developing countries:
Exploitation
in the supply chain - There are ongoing allegations that raw
materials
for companies like Apple and Tesla are mined by child laborers in
Congo.
Rights
of local communities - Protests have erupted internationally as large
companies
seize the lands of grassroots and indigenous peoples.
6. Suggestions for solutions
1. Stricter regulations - Governments should impose
stricter penalties for human
rights
violations.
2. Intention of companies*: Human rights should be
accepted as the core of the
business
model, not just implementing CSR programs.
3. Customer awareness - Actions such as boycotting
products from companies that
do not
respect human rights.
How Sri Lankan
businesses are prioritizing human rights
The business sector has played a
key role in Sri Lanka's economic revival. After the 2023 economic crisis,
companies have begun to adopt business models that focus on human rights and
sustainable development. According to the UN Development Program, 58% of
companies in Sri Lanka now implement CSR policies.
1. Progress on labor
rights
1.1 Fair working conditions
- Sri Lankan labor laws (minimum
wage, rest time) are being strictly enforced
- Labor Department report shows
that 87% of companies in 2022 followed ILO standards
1.2 Combating child labor
- Child labor in tea and rubber
plantations has decreased to 12% in 2023
- 5,000 children were educated
through programs like "Right to Dream"
2. Social
responsibility initiatives
2.1 Progress on women
- 32% of management positions were
held by women in 2023
- Hayden Corporation launches
"Women in Leadership" program
2.2 Community development projects
- John Keels Group plans to drill
50 wells per year
- Dialog Asia promotes digital
education in rural areas
3. Environment
Security
3.1 Sustainable business practices
- 45% of tea producers now use
organic farming methods
- Mass Holdings plans to reduce
plastic use by 50% by 2025
3.2 Green energy
- 38% of companies adopted solar
energy by 2023
- Hate Hotels carbon neutrality
plan
4. Challenges and
future direction
4.1 Practical issues
- Small and medium-sized
enterprises find it difficult to implement human rights policies
- CSR funds fell by 15% in 2022
due to the economic crisis
4.2 Future plans
- Government plan to require 100%
of companies to report on CSR activities by 2025
- Introducing "fair
trade" certification
Businesses need to put human
rights at the heart of their long-term success. Companies like Starbucks have
achieved a 24% increase in productivity by accepting labor unions. Therefore,
human rights are not only a legal obligation, but also a guiding principle for
business stability.
Business growth is very important.
But it is not right to see human rights as secondary after that. Only
businesses that operate in a manner that respects human rights can achieve
sustainable growth. Trust, justice and order will prevail in a society where
business and human rights work together. Therefore, human rights are not a
necessity in the business world, they are a must. Business cannot be seen as a
mere sector operating for profit. It can directly affect the lives of people.
Therefore, human rights must be at the heart of the business world. No company
that does not respect these rights can survive and grow. For the progress of a
society, even for the development of a country, it is necessary to respect and
protect human rights in the business world.
The Importance of Human Rights in the Business World.......!
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