Manpower is to use its internal training and education services to support schooling in refugee sites.
The US-based employment services company announced at the end of
October that it will provide a skills-learning programme for the
children of refugees in Azerbaijan, Thailand and Uganda, co-ordinated
through its in-house Global Learning Centre.
‘Our aim is to see children get the adequate schooling that they need
to provide them with the skills to be productive and contribute to the
workforce,’ said Britt Zarling, Manpower’s global communications
manager. ‘Then, once they are repatriated, they will be able to earn a
living and have a sustainable income.’
The scheme is part of the ‘ninemillion.org initiative’, a global
refugee project started in June by Microsoft and Nike in conjunction
with the US children’s charity Right to Pay and led by the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees.
Additionally, the company is to increase its support for the
eradication of human trafficking. It will lobby leading global
businesses to sign an international accord for an end to the trade in
forced labour and sexual servitude.
The accord, known as the Athens Ethical Principles, was drawn up
jointly with the business community in early 2006. It establishes a
‘zero tolerance’ attitude to human trafficking. Signatories commit
themselves to seven principles, including pledges to develop a
corporate anti-trafficking policy, report on best practice, ensure
employee compliance and encourage suppliers to adopt anti-trafficking
measures.
Zarling said: ‘We know that people are trafficked into the [72]
countries where we have operations, or these countries act as the
middle countries where they are transported through. That’s why we feel
compelled to ensure that all our operations raise awareness of the
issue.’
Manpower, which is to issue its first social responsibility report in
the summer of next year, hopes 1000 companies will sign the Athens
agreement by the end of 2007.
The company is also working with the End Human Trafficking Now! campaign.
