Library | ESG issues
Labour Rights
Labour rights govern the treatment of workers, covering freedom of association and collective bargaining, fair wages, safe conditions, reasonable hours, and freedom from forced and child labour. They are set out in the International Labour Organization’s core conventions and are increasingly tested through supply chain due diligence law. For investors, weak labour practices signal operational, legal and reputational risk, while strong ones are associated with lower turnover, fewer disruptions and more resilient supply chains.
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Cooler laws, safer workers: Evaluating California’s heat standard and injury reduction
This research evaluates California’s 2005 heat illness standard, finding it substantially reduced work-related injuries in high-risk sectors like construction, agriculture, and transportation. Reductions of 15% to 27% were documented, with the most significant impacts occurring during extreme heat and amongst younger workers.
The relationship between carbon emissions and wages: Evidence from Japanese manufacturing installations
This research examines the relationship between CO₂ emissions and wages in Japanese manufacturing installations from 2006 to 2019. It identifies a positive association when productivity is constant, driven by rent sharing and working conditions. The study highlights significant distributional implications for the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Just Transition Real Estate Monitor
The Just Transition Real Estate Monitor evaluates construction clients across ten European countries on climate goals and social responsibility. It provides finance professionals with ESG data on housing affordability, labour conditions, and decarbonisation in the built environment.
Expanding social security coverage in the informal economy: China’s experience and lessons
This report analyses strategies for extending social security to informal workers, comparing China’s transition to near-universal coverage with evolving systems in Kenya and Lao PDR. It highlights the role of digital transformation, fiscal subsidies, and pilot programmes in overcoming barriers to inclusive, sustainable social protection systems.
The quiet withdrawal: Human capital disclosure trends, 2022–2026
This report examines human capital disclosure trends among S&P 1500 companies from 2022 to 2026. It highlights a significant decline in demographic and board diversity reporting following the removal of regulatory requirements. While operational metrics remain stable, quantitative workforce data is increasingly being omitted from formal financial filings.
The gender pay gap in Bangladesh: Trends, causes and policy options
This report analyses the gender pay gap in Bangladesh, finding women earn 22 to 25 per cent less than men. Driven by structural discrimination and unequal care burdens, the gap persists despite legal frameworks. Recommendations include objective job evaluations, cost-sharing for maternity benefits, and strengthened labour inspection.
Good practice for credible verification of living wages
This guidance establishes a tool-agnostic framework for the credible verification of living wage gaps. It details good practices for assessing remuneration data, in-kind benefits via the ARI 2025 approach, and living wage estimates. Key requirements include methodological rigour, triangulation, and independent oversight to ensure accurate, comparable outcomes.
Lifelong learning and skills for the future: Insights for Latin America and the Caribbean
This research brief explores lifelong learning and future skill requirements in Latin America and the Caribbean. It addresses structural challenges like high informality and rapid population ageing. Utilising big-data analytics and institutional surveys, the report provides recommendations for building inclusive, flexible learning systems aligned with technological and green transitions.
Too hot to work? How rising heat affects companies, productivity and economic output
This MSCI research explores the economic impact of rising temperatures on labour productivity. It estimates global annual losses of USD 3.9 trillion under current conditions, potentially reaching 3.3% of global GDP. Asia-Pacific and the real estate sector face the highest risks, while company adaptation remains inconsistent across global markets.
Asia-Pacific EBMO survey: Labour, trade and responsible business conduct
This report analyses how Asia-Pacific employer organisations address trade-related labour requirements and responsible business conduct. While 96 per cent of surveyed EBMOs view these issues as relevant, rising business pressure and capacity constraints — particularly in funding and technical expertise — limit their ability to provide comprehensive member services.
Artificial intelligence adoption in Chinese enterprises: Productivity effects, workforce implications, and policy challenges
This research explores artificial intelligence adoption within Chinese enterprises using qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys. It identifies significant productivity gains, various organisational models, and workforce impacts, including income anxiety and skills gaps. The report highlights the human–AI collaboration paradigm and offers policy recommendations for skills development and governance.
Disability employment quotas: Lessons for Indonesia from ASEAN and East Asia
This report analyses disability employment quota systems across Indonesia, ASEAN, and East Asia. It identifies five legal models, ranging from binding levy-subsidy architectures to voluntary incentive-based approaches. Recommendations for Indonesia include clarifying calculation methodologies, establishing structured incentive frameworks, and implementing graduated compliance pathways to improve inclusive employment outcomes.
Enterprises, supply chains and the transition to formality: Linkages and innovation
This ILO research brief examines how multinational enterprises and supply chains drive the transition from informal to formal economies. By leveraging market incentives, technology transfers, and innovative procurement, MNEs can improve working conditions, social protection, and productivity for lower-tier MSMEs, supporting global decent work objectives.
Mobile internet and employment: Evidence from 52 countries
This report analyses the impact of 3G expansion on employment across 52 countries from 2004 to 2023. It finds that while connectivity increases participation in low-income regions, it is associated with declining employment in mature economies. Gender gaps remain persistent, particularly regarding youth disengagement in poorer contexts.
European employment and social outlook series
This report is part of a series providing an analysis of labour market and social developments within the European Union. It examines the relationship between job quality, productivity and economic performance, evaluating dimensions such as earnings and job security to inform evidence-based policymaking across Member States.
Realities of artisanal and small-scale copper and cobalt mining in Lualaba province, DRC
IPIS and IBGDH mapped 51 artisanal copper and cobalt mines in Lualaba, DRC, employing an estimated 109,000 miners. The study finds few viable designated zones, cooperative elite capture, tension with industrial concessions, unsafe conditions, child labour and extortion by state agents, and recommends creating legal spaces for artisanal miners.
