Corporate giants that we recognize from our local Scottish high street must operate responsibly when they operate globally - this is clear message from the European Parliament, which has just over whelmingly approved strong new measures to make sure that all companies play their fair part in combating climate change and global poverty.

 

David Martin and Catherine Stihler backed strong new measures on corporate social responsibility, in a report that will see corporations having to report on the environmental and social impacts of their work, and could see victims affected by abuses perpetrated by European companies allowed to take cases against the company involved through our courts.

 

Although most EU companies are champions of good practice, reports published recently show the urgent need for these new standards where products sold in Scottish high streets have been accused:

 

• Workers in Bangladesh are regularly working 80 hours a week for just 5p an hour, in potential death trap factories, to produce cheap clothes for British consumers.

 • Factory owners have forced staff to work up to 140 hours month overtime, often unpaid, or face dismissal.

• Oil spills and severe air pollution due to gas flaring in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, have resulted in loss of aquatic life and mangroves.

 

The changes which has been championed by Labour in the European Parliament has been warmly welcomed as a huge step forward by Amnesty International, Friends of the Earth and Oxfam.

 

David Martin MEP, Labour’s International Trade spokesperson, said: “We are demanding that companies many of which are familiar household names to us in Scotland stand up, act positively and make a visible and significant contribution to combating climate change and global poverty.

 

“ Everyone must get involved to make their contribution to combatting climate change, there cannot be a situation where some companies are making huge efforts with others doing zero. We now have a fair playing field for everyone, and a chance for business to join with government to tackle climate change and fight global poverty.”