My Blog List

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Chinese firm helps Iran spy on citizens (ZTE Corporation)

A Chinese telecommunications equipment company has sold Iran's largest telecom firm a powerful surveillance system capable of monitoring landline, mobile and internet communications, interviews and contract documents show...

More on Reuters.

ZTE Corporation is a Global Compact participant since 17-02-2009.

Coke’s not it: 16 workers sue, call giant ‘cesspool’ of racial discrimination

Sixteen black and Hispanic production workers are suing Coca-Cola, claiming they have been forced to work in a “ cesspool of racial discrimination.” The suit, filed in Brooklyn Federal Court, accuses the company of relegating minorities to less favorable assignments, unfair disciplinary action and retaliation for complaining...

Read more

The Coca-Cola Company is a Global Compact participant since 2006/03/14

In 2010, Coca-Cola was a Gold contributor to the Foundation for the Global Compact.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Possible Corruption At Swiss Joint Venture (Yara International ASA)

Norwegian fertilizer company Yara International ASA said Friday its investigation into possible corruption has now uncovered unacceptable payments from the company's joint venture in Switzerland.

Read More on 4-Traders.
Read the official press release issued by the company.

Yara International ASA is a Global Compact participant since 2006/02/03.

In 2011 and 2010, Yara International ASA was a Gold Contributor to the Foundation for the Global Compact.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Novo Nordisk sued by US salesforce for $70m

A US law firm has filed a legal challenge against Novo Nordisk on behalf of current and former sales representatives, claiming millions of dollars in unpaid overtime.

Sanford Wittels & Heisler claims that Denmark-based Novo Nordisk defied state and federal laws by withholding overtime wages from the sales reps, and is demanding $70m to settle the matter. The case has been filed in the State of New York.

More on PMLive Intelligence Online

Novo Nordisk is a Global Compact participant since 2002/03/18. It contributed to USD 5,000 - USD 10,000 to the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2009.

27 injured in roof collapse at IFFCO plant

At least 27 workers were injured, 11 of them seriously, when the roof of a silo caved in at an Indian Farmers Fertiliser Co-operative Limited (IFFCO) plant in Paradip on Feburary 20th 2012. Locals and workers union leaders blamed the plant management for the incident.

More on IBN Live.

IFFCO is a Global Compact participant since 2001/11/16

Norwegian trade unionist wins court decision over DHL

Monica Okpe, the Norwegian trade unionist sacked by DHL, celebrated her victory in the Norwegian labour court on Tuesday March 7th 2012, over DHL's anti union actions. In a unanimous and binding verdict delivered late in the afternoon the court ruled that Norwegian labour laws have been broken, and she should be reinstated and awarded 42,000 euro compensation.

More on Uni Global Union website

Deutsche Post DHL is a Global Compact participant since 2006/07/20. It contributed to USD 5,000 - USD 10,000 to the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2009.

Holcim’s Violations in India Taken to OECD

On 12 January, the ICEM joined a complaint to the OECD submitted by the local union Pragatisheel Cement Shramik Sangh (PCSS). PCSS is a member of the ICEM global family and represents 1,500 contract workers in the state of Chhattisgarh.

The complaint focuses on a number of breaches of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises at Holcim’s cement companies. Other than the clear violation of the contract workers’ right to organise and bargain collectively, Holcim is also cited for refusing to engage in collective bargaining with PCSS, which is officially registered as the trade union representing workers at the cement installations.

More on International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions website. Holcim was a 2011 Siver Contributor of the Foundation for the Global Compact'

Mitsui unit to pay $90 million to settle Deepwater Horizon spill liability

MOEX Offshore 2007 LLC has agreed to settle its liability in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in a settlement with the United States valued at $90 million, according to the Department of Justice, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

MOEX is owned by Mitsui Co Ltd.

More on Marine Log.

Mitsui Co Ltd is a Global Compact participant since 2004/10/06.

Monsanto guilty of chemical poisoning in France

A French court on Monday, February 13th, 2012, declared U.S. biotech giant Monsanto guilty of chemical poisoning of a French farmer...

More on Reuters.
More on Business and Human Rights.

Monsanto is a Global Compact participant since 2009/09/17. Monsanto was also a Gold contributor of the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2011 and 2010.

World Bank Debars Alstom Hydro France, Alstom Network Schweiz AG, and their Affiliates

On February 22 2012, the World Bank Group announced the debarment of Alstom Hydro France and Alstom Network Schweiz AG (Switzerland) - in addition to their affiliates - for a period of three years following Alstom’s acknowledgment of misconduct in relation to a Bank-financed hydropower project.

The debarment is part of a Negotiated Resolution Agreement between Alstom and the World Bank which also includes a restitution payment by the two companies totaling approximately $9.5 million.

Read the World Bank press release

Alstom is a Global Compact participant since 2008/03/18. It is a Member of the Working Group on the 10th Principle. Alstom was also a Gold contributor to the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2011.

French energy giant Alstom fined for bribery in relation to Zambian hydropower project

The World Bank has slapped a $9.5-million fine on the Alstom corporation, involved in the South African nuclear industry, and blacklisted two of its subsidiaries after it admitted to bribing a senior Zambian government official. The World Bank fine was imposed after Alstom admitted to an "improper payment" of €110 000 to the official for "consultancy services" when the company submitted a bid to perform bank-funded rehabilitation work on hydropower systems at Victoria Falls.

More on Mail and Guardian online

Alstom is a Global Compact participant since 2008/03/18. It is a Member of the Working Group on the 10th Principle. Alstom was also a Gold contributor to the Foundation for the Global Compact in 2011.