Engaging with Burberry as a ‘critical friend’ has helped Oxfam to understand barriers and opportunities for better workers’ rights. Rachel Wilshaw describes how collaboration has enabled us to innovate and test solutions together. I first visited Burberry just over five years ago. The glamour pouring from the elegant building, and the giant screen showing the latest catwalk collection, were somewhat daunting. …
Cracking down on tax dodging, cracking down on poverty
Following the ‘Paradise Papers’ leak of financial documents Mark Goldring explains why Oxfam is calling for greater tax transparency. When businesses dodge taxes the poorest people suffer the consequences: lack of funding for public services. Through Oxfam’s work fighting poverty around the world, I see the devastating impact that not having access to basic services like education, clean water and …
Tax is an attitude: not just a set of rules
A huge new leak of financial documents this week has revealed how some multinational companies secretly make use of tax havens. FTSE 100 energy company SSE believes it should be the norm to report tax payments on a country by country basis, as they already do. Here Alistair Phillips-Davies, SSE’s Chief Executive, explains why paying taxes matters to them. SSE …
The missing piece of the puzzle is the fourth sector
What kind of business can help take the world to a fairer and more sustainable future? Today Oxfam is launching the Future of Business Initiative at the UN General Assembly in New York. Here Erinch Sahan explains why we’re calling for investment in the ‘fourth sector’. The 21st century brings us challenges at a scale we haven’t encountered before. Poverty, …
Reimagining business to tackle inequality
Erinch Sahan explains why the current reality of mainstream business isn’t cutting the mustard when it comes to tackling inequality. Inequality is spiralling to absurd levels. Our economies are generating vast wealth but it is channelled to a tiny minority of people. Since the turn of the century, the poorest half of the world’s population has received just one percent of …
Making ‘people are our greatest asset’ ring true
The Workforce Disclosure Initiative will shine a spotlight on how companies treat the people working in their supply chains. Rachel Wilshaw, Ethical Trade Manager, explains how and why Oxfam is involved. ‘Disclosure’ is a hot topic at present, with the BBC dealing with the fall-out from disclosing the gender pay-gap amongst top presenters, the prime minister of Pakistan resigning following …
A letter to Sainsbury’s
This is a joint agency letter sent to Sainsbury’s CEO Mike Coupe following the announcement of the “Fairly Traded” tea pilot and the creation of the new Sainsbury’s Sustainability Standards. Dear Mike, Following the announcement of Sainsbury’s “Fairly Traded” tea pilot and the creation of the new Sainsbury’s Sustainability Standards, we are writing to express a number of serious concerns. Although …