Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Archives

USCIB Recognizes World Day Against Trafficking and Stands Firm With Global Community to Eradicate Trafficking

Published on July 31, 2023

New York, N.Y., July 31, 2023—The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) supports the global community in recognizing World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and emphasizes that trafficking in all forms is unacceptable. The U.S. business community continues to help combat trafficking globally.

Held annually on July 30, this day commemorates the victims of trafficking and provides survivors with an opportunity to make their voices heard. USCIB is proud of the work that our members have done, and continue to do, to prevent and end trafficking throughout their global supply chains.

USCIB also welcomes the recent release of the State Department’s Report, 2023 Trafficking in Persons, which raises further awareness of human trafficking and highlights the fight against it on a global level. The report calls for global partnerships between government, business and civil society to share resources and information and to leverage technology to better address the nexus between finance and human trafficking.

As both the report and global trafficking studies conclude, this issue’s scale remains vast: every year, tens of millions of people are exploited.

USCIB looks forward to working with the State Department and other government agencies, civil society and partners to eradicate all forms of human trafficking.

Together with our members and our global affiliates, such as the International Organization of Employers (IOE), the representative of employers at the ILO, we will continue to bring forward private sector solutions and resources to combat trafficking in all its forms.

About USCIB: The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) advances the global interests of American business. We do so through advocacy for an open system of world trade, finance, and investment, where business can flourish and contribute to economic growth, human welfare, and environmental protection.  We play a leading role in informing the negotiation and adoption of international labor standards, and in human rights, labor, and environmental   policy deliberations at the United Nations, OECD, and ILO, as the sole U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Business at OECD (BIAC) and the International Organization of Employers (IOE). In addition, USCIB is the only U.S. business organization with standing at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and is recognized at the UN Environment Program (UNEP), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD).

 

Robinson Covers BIAC General Assembly and OECD Ministerial Council Meetings

Published on June 21, 2023

USCIB President and CEO Peter Robinson traveled to Paris earlier this month for the Business at OECD (BIAC) General Assembly and the OECD Ministerial Council. 

According to Robinson, one focus of the General Assembly was the release of its 2023 Economic Policy Survey, which revealed cautious but slightly optimistic business sentiment despite a tumultuous year.  

As per the survey, 57% of the responding national business federations from BIAC’s network regard the current business environment as “good”, compared to only 10% in the previous year. However, business concerns remain significant about energy prices (83%), food prices (61%) and overall geopolitical tensions (62%), and key challenges for companies include staff shortages (80%), increased cost of human resources (55%), and market uncertainty (57%).  

BIAC shared these results and the Economic Policy Survey with the OECD during the June 7-8 OECD Ministerial Council. The Ministerial was held under the theme, Securing a Resilient Future: Shared Values and Global Partnerships. BIAC’s insights included business concerns about the war in Ukraine, which has exacerbated inflation rate developments, labor shortages and energy prices. BIAC also raises concerns about supply chains disruptions, the need for structural reforms around infrastructure, digitalization, regulatory burdens and green transition. 

The Ministerial took place amid persistent tension in world affairs, including Russia’s illegal war in the Ukraine, which has resulted in insurmountable human suffering in the Ukraine, as well as humanitarian and economic crises globally. Additionally, economies around the globe continue to face challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic and compounding challenges around climate change. 

“In light of these persistent challenges in the international system, we cannot underestimate the importance of multilateral cooperation,” said Robinson. “USCIB will continue working with the OECD, through Business at OECD, to support our common values and a rules-based order, overcome shared obstacles, and achieve societal and economic progress.” 

For more information on BIAC and the OECD Ministerial Council, please see the links below: 

BIAC Statement to the OECD on Securing a Resilient Future: Shared Values and Global Partnerships 

2023 Business at OECD Economic Policy Survey 

BIAC Year Highlights: How We Delivered Value to Our Members (May 2022-May 2023) 

ILO Adopts New International Labor Standard on Apprenticeships

Published on June 16, 2023
Photo credit: Akustina Morni (IOE) Top, L-R: Luis Claudino de Oliveira (Chairperson), Amanda Brown (Vice Chairperson, Workers), Blaise Matthey (Vice Chairperson, Employers)
Bottom, L-R: Ali Bin Samikh Al Marri (President of the Conference), Gilbert Houngbo (ILO Director General)

New York, N.Y., June 16, 2023—The International Labor Organization (ILO) has adopted a new international labor standard, in the form of a recommendation, on apprenticeships, according to USCIB Director for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Ewa Staworzynska.

Staworzynska is currently on the ground in Geneva representing U.S. employers at the 111th annual International Labor Conference (ILC). USCIB is the U.S. national committee of the International Organization of Employers (IOE).

The Standard-Setting Committee on Apprenticeships is a two-year process.  This is the second year of the Standard-Setting Committee. USCIB has participated in both years partnering and collaborating with the IOE to ensure that business needs and realities are reflected in the text.

We had great success in reaching a balanced approach, with special emphasis on the promotion of quality apprenticeships.

Photo credit: Akustina Morni (IOE)
L-R: Ryan Larsen (Walmart & USCIB CRLA Vice Chair), Sarah Morgan (U.S. Department of Labor), Thea Lee (U.S. Department of Labor), Adam Lee (U.S. Department of Labor)

USCIB was represented by Ryan Larsen, senior director for International Labor Relations at Walmart and vice-chair of the USCIB Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Committee (CRLA), taking part in the U.S. Employers delegation. Larsen participated throughout the Standard-Setting process.

In his remarks at the Plenary, where the draft text was submitted to the Conference for adoption, he noted that, “In this unique tri-partite system, we have developed a strategy, program, and approach to continually enhance Apprenticeships, ensuring that they provide workers with the necessary skills to attain full, productive and freely chosen employment. Additionally, we have emphasized the importance of lifelong learning opportunities; promoting continuous skilling, reskilling and upskilling, which in turn contributes to the promotion of decent work and full employment.”

Larsen added that, “The promotion and development of quality apprenticeships not only lead to decent work but also provide effective responses to the challenges of the ever-changing world of work. These apprenticeships offer lifelong learning opportunities, enhancing productivity, resilience, transitions and employability.”

“USCIB has often advocated the critical role of quality apprenticeships,” said Staworzynska. “Quality apprenticeships support the development of business-ready skills, help realize the goals of inclusive economic growth and can advance the transition to the formal economy.” This new ILO standard provides non-binding guidelines for Member States to ensure quality apprenticeships.

According to the ILO, a glance around the world shows that an increasing number of countries are focusing on the development or improvement of apprenticeship systems and programs to address the challenges of changing labor market trends and the need for workers to retrain and upskill.

The ILC is currently taking place in Geneva June 5-16. Delegates from the ILO’s 187 Member States along with employers and workers have gathered to tackle a wide range of issues. In addition to apprenticeships, delegates have discussed a just transition towards sustainable and inclusive economies as well as labor protection.

About USCIB: The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) advances the global interests of American business. We do so through advocacy for an open system of world trade, finance, and investment, where business can flourish and contribute to economic growth, human welfare, and environmental protection.  We play a leading role in informing the negotiation and adoption of international labor standards, and in human rights, labor, and environmental   policy deliberations at the United Nations, OECD, and ILO, as the sole U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Business at OECD (BIAC) and the International Organization of Employers (IOE). In addition, USCIB is the only U.S. business organization with standing at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and is recognized at the UN Environment Program (UNEP), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD).

Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs

Published on June 14, 2023

Trends and Challenges Facing U.S. Business:

  • As company operations have diversified globally and views on the role of business in society evolves, there is a continuing need for evidence-based government policies that distinguish the complementary but distinct roles of governments and business.  The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights are the global framework that clarify the duty of governments under international law to protect the human rights of their citizens, the responsibility of businesses to respect human rights in their operations, and the need for greater access to remedy for alleged victims of corporate-related human rights harms.
  • Complex supply chains pose risks for multinational corporations operating globally, through possible exposure to weak or lax enforcement of policies and laws meant to address unfair and unacceptable working conditions like forced labor and child labor. To address these decent work deficits meaningfully, a range of policy tools can be applied to both support and encourage governments to enact the rule of law in their own countries, ranging from targeted development assistance to labor-conditionality in trade preference programs and free trade agreements.
  • The United Nations 2030 Development Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will re-frame corporate sustainability and touch the lives of people everywhere. The scale and ambition of the Agenda creates a tremendous opportunity for the private sector to demonstrate the central role it plays in sustainable development and human prosperity and to serve as an essential partner.

 

USCIB’s Response:

  • Advocate for policies that recognize the different roles of governments and business in ensuring respect for the rule of law and human rights. With the advent of the consensus around the three pillars of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which USCIB helped shape and which we endorse, we work to ensure that regulatory approaches remain consistent with the established consensus on the balance between the State duty to protect and the corporate responsibility to respect human rights.
  • Help members promote American business leadership in global policy debates by tracking emerging trends in regulatory and civil society expectations, informing members of key developments, and channeling member feedback directly in our engagements with the U.S. Administration and international organizations, including as the U.S. business representative within the UN, International Labor Organization (ILO) and OECD. In doing so, we communicate our members’ consensus views on international labor standards, civil society initiatives and macroeconomic labor market policies.
  • Advocate for the inclusion of the business community in the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the global, national and local levels and promote USCIB members’ contributions to the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through advocacy platforms, such as Business for 2030, and leveraging exposure through leading conferences and events around UN policy meetings.

Magnifying Your Voice with USCIB:

  • USCIB is the only U.S. business association formally affiliated with the world’s three largest business organizations where we work with business leaders across the globe to extend our reach to influence policymakers in key international markets to American business
  • Build consensus with like-minded industry peers and participate in off-the-record briefings with policymakers both home and abroad.

USCIB on LinkedIn

Chairs

David N. Barnes
Vice President, Global Workforce Policy
IBM Corporation

Tam Robert Nguyen
President, bechtel.org Impact Company
Bechtel Corporation

Vice Chairs

Ryan Larsen
Senior Director, International Labor Relations
Walmart Inc.

Melissa J. Kopolow 
Vice President, Sustainability Practice
Albright Stonebridge Group

Staff

Ewa Staworzynska
Director, Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs
212-703-5056 or at ewa@uscib.org

Jose Arroyo
Policy Manager, Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs
212-703-5083 or at jarroyo@uscib.org

Ronnie Goldberg
Senior Counsel
212-703-5057 or at rgoldberg@uscib.org

Tom Mackall
Senior Counsel and ILO Governing Body Member
tmackall@uscib.org

USCIB Statement on the Revised OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct

Published on June 9, 2023

New York, N.Y., June 09, 2023—On June 8, OECD governments adopted the revised Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct. USCIB and its members have long recognized and promoted the Guidelines as the most comprehensive, government-backed, voluntary practical framework for responsible business conduct. We proudly advocate for responsible business conduct and recognize the crucial role that businesses have in promoting sustainable practices. This revised version, however, promulgates new far-reaching expectations on companies, raising serious concerns about its practicality.

U.S. businesses have consistently demonstrated their leading role in corporate social responsibility, championing initiatives that drive positive change across industries worldwide. Our unwavering commitment to the highest practicable standards for responsible business conduct remains, and we stand ready to support and implement international cooperation across private and public sectors to prioritize sustainability, fair labor practices and social responsibility.

The 2022-2023 revision of the Guidelines has resulted in substantial, far-reaching, and sometimes unimplementable changes, significantly expanding the complexity, scale, and scope of expectations on multinational enterprises and other businesses, posing risks to the Guidelines’ serving as a practical, voluntary reference for companies. Our concerns encompass, among others, upstream and downstream due diligence for an expanded range of business relationships, even beyond contractual agreements, and new approaches on environment and climate change due diligence.

USCIB actively participated in all negotiation rounds as part of Business at OECD (BIAC), and we align with their views on the revised Guidelines. Along the process, we provided constructive, comprehensive, and consensus-based private sector inputs, and while we greatly appreciate the consultations and recognize that many of our comments were reflected in the text, we regret that the revision process was not more aligned with previous practice, when OECD institutional stakeholders co-drafted the text together with the OECD Secretariat, thus ensuring business buy-in.

We welcome the fact that the voluntary and aspirational nature of the Guidelines was preserved. However, we remain concerned that some new provisions might conflict with U.S. law, particularly the right of association for workers without employment relationships. In addition, this document should not be considered as a template for binding regulatory or legislative action at international, regional, national, or local levels.  Effective responsible business conduct legislation depends on laws that are practical and reflect views of the private sector along with realities on the ground. We stand ready to provide guidance and suggestions to governments in this respect.

Companies will need sufficient time to assess the newly introduced complexities. We stress the importance of a balanced approach to implementation, taking into account business realities and complex contexts, especially in states with significant institutional, rule of law or enforcement challenges.

This expression of serious concern should not be interpreted as a rejection of business commitment and action to advance human rights globally, tackle environmental challenges, promote good practices wherever it operates, and contribute to partnership and positive impact for people and planet. We remain committed to the highest responsible business conduct standards, while enabling, facilitating, and supporting conditions for business to thrive and contribute to delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

USCIB and its members look forward to working with the OECD, its member states, and other stakeholders to advance the critical role of business in tackling sustainability challenges, promoting job creation, innovation, and investment, and informing sound policy and its implementation. We are committed to advancing and amplifying OECD’s best implementable practices and will continue to serve as a proponent of and champion for promoting responsible business conduct globally.

About USCIB

The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) advances the global interests of American business. We do so through advocacy for an open system of world trade, finance, and investment, where business can flourish and contribute to economic growth, human welfare, and environmental protection.  We play a leading role in informing the negotiation and adoption of international labor standards, and in human rights, labor, and environmental   policy deliberations at the United Nations, OECD, and ILO, as the sole U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Business at OECD (BIAC) and the International Organization of Employers (IOE).  In addition, USCIB is the only U.S. business organization with standing at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and is recognized at the UN Environment Program (UNEP), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD).

USCIB Releases Pride Month Statement, Supporting Equality and Inclusion

Published on June 8, 2023

New York, N.Y., June 8, 2023—Article 1 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”  The observation of Pride Month, which this June celebrates the contribution of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals to our communities and our societies, sits firmly in this human rights tradition. The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) is proud to take this occasion to underscore our commitment and that of our members to support LGBTQI+ equality and inclusion.

In this regard, we applaud the commitment of the U.S. government to support LBGTQ+ rights, including the efforts of U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield to integrate these rights into the work of the UN Security Council.

“We and our companies are committed to treating all individuals with dignity and respect and we call on the international community to fight for the human rights of LGBTQI+ people around the world,” said USCIB Director, Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Ewa Staworzynska. 

Sixty-four countries, nearly half of them in Africa, still have laws that criminalize homosexuality, and at least nine criminalize other forms of gender expression. USCIB will continue to work through our international affiliates to raise the voice of business in the ILO, OECD, and the United Nations to advocate for the rights of the LGBTQI+ community around the world.

About USCIB: USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development, and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence. Its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world. As the U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and Business at OECD (BIAC), USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More at www.uscib.org.

Business at OECD Releases Statement Ahead of OECD Ministerial Council

Published on June 7, 2023

The OECD Ministerial Council is taking place June 7-8 under the theme, Securing a Resilient Future: Shared Values and Global Partnerships. In light of the Ministerial, Business at OECD (BIAC) has released a statement to the OECD with insights drawn from the forthcoming 2023 Business at OECD Economic Policy Survey. Some of the themes addressed in BIAC’s insights include business concerns about the war in Ukraine, which has exacerbated inflation rate developments, labor shortages and energy prices. BIAC also raises concerns about supply chains disruptions, the need for structural reforms around infrastructure, digitalization, regulatory burdens and green transition.

The Ministerial is taking place amid persistent tension in world affairs, including Russia’s illegal war in the Ukraine, which has resulted in insurmountable human suffering in the Ukraine, as well as humanitarian and economic crises globally. Additionally, economies around the globe continue to face challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges around climate change.

BIAC’s statement emphasizes that this “unsettled world order requires an ever-greater capacity and commitment to multilateral cooperation and collective progress on these common fronts. The engine of societal progress, the world economy, has been paying a high price for an increasingly unstable rules-based international system, and the past year has been challenging for many businesses. The OECD private sector remains committed to defend our common values and rules-based order and continues to support effective government action towards these goals.”

According to BIAC, in the current context, the success of our economies relies on successful diplomacy, meaningful international cooperation and effective multilateralism in support of pragmatic policies.

For more information, please see the links below:

BIAC Statement to the OECD on Securing a Resilient Future: Shared Values and Global Partnerships

2023 Business at OECD Economic Policy Survey

BIAC Year Highlights: How We Delivered Value to Our Members (May 2022-May 2023)

USCIB Participates in US-EU Trade and Technology Council Meeting in Sweden

Published on June 7, 2023

USCIB Vice President for International Investment and Trade Policy Alice Slayton Clark was in Luleå, Sweden to attend the fourth meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), a platform to advance Transatlantic cooperation and democratic approaches to trade, technology, and security.   

An official delegate, Clark served as a principal in the TTC’s Trade and Labor Dialogue (TALD), a selective exchange between business and unions on both sides of the Atlantic to explore policies related to the intersection of trade, labor and technology. The meeting in Luleå showcased an agreement on forced labor trade strategy principles reached between business and labor partners. The principles reflect inputs from USCIB members on the need for a “multifaceted” approach involving diplomacy, foreign assistance, capacity building, and supply chain due diligence to address the root causes of the problem. Because industry and unions could not reach agreement on the role of border enforcement as a trade tool, footnotes were inserted to reflect differences. 

“USCIB is pleased business and unions were able to agree through the TALD process on principles to address forced labor,” Clark asserted.  “Importantly, the document notes industry support for incentives rather than punitive border measures as trade tools of choice to prevent violative goods from being produced and entering into commerce in the first place.”    

Also discussed by TALD participants were trade and labor issues linked to the green transition, a topic of key concern to the US and EU and showcased in official visits to the green steel Hybrit plant in Luleå. USCIB initial views on the topic promoted a comprehensive strategy of trade, investment, education and training policies. USCIB will work with members to develop these points as the TALD green transition discussions continue in the months ahead.   

Importantly, the TTC meeting also produced a Joint Statement that reaffirms transatlantic alignment on the war in Ukraine, reform of the World Trade Organization, policies against economic coercion and pursuit of supply chain diversification. Many issues discussed at the meeting reflect transatlantic convergence on policies related to Russia and China. As such, according to Clark, the TTC continues to draw high level government participation including full engagement from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis and European Commission Executive Vice President Margreth Vestager.     

Other key issues advanced in Luleå were the launch of principal level consultations to head off subsidy races for the semiconductor industry, a task force to address cooperation in quantum technologies, the development of a work program for the Transatlantic Initiative on Sustainable Trade, exploration of increased use of digital tools to enhance trade, continued cooperation on export controls, illegal diversion of technologies and sanctions, availability of critical minerals, and managing emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence. 

USCIB, OECD, BIAC Roundtable on AI Considers Path Forward to Make AI More Trustworthy

Published on May 10, 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to drive economic growth and commercial activity, as well as to improve lives. AI deployment and applications have swept across many sectors and have been embraced by a broad array of companies, beyond traditional “tech companies.” However, different frameworks and standards for AI have also emerged, aimed at ensuring that AI systems are “human-centric” and “trustworthy” and to safeguard against AI misuse that can undermine personal privacy and online security protections, support decision-making biases that exacerbate social inequality and cause disruptions in the labor market.

Against this backdrop, USCIB launched the Joseph H. Alhadeff Digital Economy Roundtable Series as a virtual event on April 26. The event was a joint initiative of USCIB, Business at OECD (BIAC) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and addressed the topic “Advancing Implementation of the OECD AI Principles Across Sectors.” Representatives from companies such as IKEA, LEGO and Walmart discussed non-traditional use cases of AI in delivering products and services and shared experiences about how their respective companies are assessing and addressing potential risks of AI.

“What we’re seeing is that AI can increase safety and quality of the associate and customer experience,” said Walmart Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel of Digital Citizenship Nuala O’Connor. “As long as we are fair, accountable, transparent, and we embed those values into the use of AI, we believe AI can be a trust enhancer. Digital trust is essential to our brand and our company in the future, and we continue to strive to be the world’s most trusted retailer.”

“If done right and consistent with principles, including the OECD AI Principles, the impact of AI can be positive,” added LEGO Global Lead on Digital Policy Adam Ingle. “But there are workforce challenges and other risks that we can’t walk blindly into. The nature of our conversation on this panel shows that everyone is aware of the risk and that we’ll find a solution that is a net benefit.”

During the panel on “Government and Standards Setting Perspectives,” experts from both the OECD and government agencies examined how ground-breaking AI Principles provide a foundational reference for companies across all industries so they might feel more confident that their AI deployment is trustworthy.

“The OECD previewed work aimed at promoting global consistency in frameworks and standards to ensure that AI systems deployed are trustworthy, human-centric, accountable and ethical,” said USCIB Vice President for ICT Policy Barbara Wanner.

Furthermore, representatives from the U.S. and UK, as well as technical organizations such as DG-Connect and IEEE, discussed how they will be working with the OECD to identify common guideposts to assess AI risk and its trustworthiness. They also reviewed their own frameworks, responded to business concerns and considered the prospects for greater global interoperability.

Participants also heard from AI pioneers such as Amazon Web Services, Google, GSMA, Microsoft and RELX on the way forward.

“Standards will be our short cut to interoperability,” said Marc Etienne Ouimette, global lead for AI policy at Amazon Web Services. “It’s likely that different jurisdictions will have different risk tolerances, or different understandings of what constitutes high risk AI. Notwithstanding this, standards (and audits and assessments against these) will be the method by which we will define what good development/deployment is (what the “good” is). When jurisdictions embrace international standards, they allow for differences in regulatory approaches while ensuring access to and alignment with global markets. This provides the right type of enabling environment for responsible AI, a key OECD recommendation.”

USCIB has released a report of the Roundtable. Please click here to access the summary report.

USCIB Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Committee Deliberates Specific Outcomes on Strategy, Policy Approaches

Published on May 9, 2023
USCIB Director for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Ewa Staworzynska

The USCIB Committee on Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs (CRLA) met in Washington DC May 3-4 to discuss a wide range of issues faced by U.S. business in international fora. Committee chairs, David Barnes (IBM) and Tam Nguyen (Bechtel), opened the two-day meeting that included 35 member companies, U.S. government speakers, European partners and a guest speaker from AFL-CIO.

The meeting also served as an official introduction to the Committee’s two new vice chairs, Melissa Kopolow (Albright Stonebridge Group) and Ryan Larsen (Walmart), as well as the new USCIB Director for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Ewa Staworzynska.

Specific issues discussed by members over the course of the two-days included the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises (MNE Guidelines), the UN Biding Treaty for Business and Human Rights, the upcoming June International Labor Organization (ILO) Conference negotiations related to just transition and apprenticeships and proposed EU legislation. Members shared their feedback on strategic priorities and discussed how to further advance U.S. business’ perspective in global policy.

The meeting was the first time the Committee met in person since before the pandemic and member companies expressed their appreciation to the CRLA leadership and highlighted the importance of meeting in person. The meeting also reinvigorated the committee’s work; as a member-based organization, listening to members is the main priority for USCIB staff. The next CRLA Committee meeting will take place in the fall.