BHR Services
The emerging field of Business and Human Rights (BHR) law is gaining prominence both in Canada and internationally. Recent laws (such as Canada’s Forced and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act), regulations, and legal precedents now require businesses to prioritize human rights considerations within their operations and supply chains. Concurrently, there's a growing trend in the investment community towards incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into financial assessments. Human rights issues are increasingly central to these social considerations, demanding that companies stay informed about evolving global and local expectations. Impact Business Law helps businesses navigate these complex legal landscapes, ensuring ethical practices across their operations and supply chains.
What we can do to help your business remain compliant with BHR legislation
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Risk Assessments - identifying any instances of forced labor or child labor within your business operations and supply chains to safeguard against human rights violations.
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Policies - crafting and implementing tailored BHR policies, such as procurement guidelines and supplier codes of conduct, that help both your employees and suppliers understand their obligations in mitigating the risks associated with forced and child labor.
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Contracts - helping you enhance supply chain contracts to proactively address the risk of forced and child labor. We provide expertise in reviewing existing contracts and negotiating supplier representations and warranties, to ensure contractual terms align with your company's human rights policies and incorporate necessary termination clauses.
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Training - facilitating specialized training sessions for directors and officers equips them with the knowledge and skills required to fulfill reporting obligations under relevant legislation. Our training programs support leadership in upholding human rights standards within your organization.
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Reporting - providing guidance on meeting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting and compliance obligations, including the development of detailed reports such as the Supply Chain Risk Report. Our BHR practice area is dedicated to assisting clients in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and ensuring adherence to human rights principles.
Workplace Matters
Impact Business Law can help you create comprehensive solutions for workplace safety and respectful practices, including:
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developing inclusive and respectful employment and labour policies.
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conducting workplace assessments to identify risks and mitigate liabilities.
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identifying the need for workplace investigations and referring you to the right resources and investigators.
BHR RESOURCES
Business & Human Rights Resources
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Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act - Public Safety Canada
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Know the Chain - https://knowthechain.org/
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Corporate Human Rights Benchmark - https://www.worldbenchmarkingalliance.org/corporate-human-rights-benchmark/
Global BHR Frameworks
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Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises - https://www.oecd.org/corporate/mne/
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United Nation’s Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights - https://www.ungpreporting.org/resources/the-ungps/
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United Nation Global Compact Ten Principles - https://www.unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/mission/principles
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International Labour Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work - https://www.ilo.org/declaration/lang--en/index.html