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On Mondays, we explore what’s happening abroad in the world of HR. Got global HR news? Let us know by responding to this email.
HR leaders, especially those managing a global workforce, are all too familiar with the challenges of reducing workplace inequities. As women around the world face employment discrimination, new initiatives from the US government are trying to help.
Where in the world? The US Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced that it’s giving $5 million to the Solidarity Center, a workers’ rights nonprofit, to help protect women facing workplace harassment and discrimination, particularly those in Nigeria and Liberia. More than 60% of women report being sexually harassed at work in Nigeria, and employer harassment policies are rare, according to USAID. The funds will also be used to reduce structural barriers to employment for women.
The news came on the heels of a $12 million grant to the American Center for International Labor Solidarity to support workers’ rights in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. Women workers in South America face discrimination, harassment, and lack opportunities, according to the World Bank.
Satellite view. These moves are part of a broader effort to advance workers’ rights within the Bureau of International Labor Affairs. Since December 2021, the effort, known as the Multilateral Partnership for Organizing, Worker Empowerment, and Rights (M-POWER), has been supported by various governments and philanthropic organizations. The DOL, Agency for International Development, and Department of State have collectively committed $130 million.
“Strong, independent labor movements are central to inclusive, vibrant democracies, which is why workers’ collective voice is central to setting the priorities for M-POWER,” Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh said in a statement in early December.
The collective efforts are a reminder that safe workplaces contribute to a safer world.—KP
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