The Tourism Workers’ Alliance, a joint initiative of the IUF and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), has released a groundbreaking study on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) trends, projections, risks and opportunities in travel and tourism.
Drawing on multiple perspectives from across the industry – including unions, companies, investors and regulators – the report, ‘Why The ‘S’ In ESG Matters: Social Sustainability and Labour and Human Rights in Travel And Tourism,’ outlines critical social risks and presents a clear business case for tackling labour and human rights issues head-on, alongside seven actionable steps for improving conditions across the sector.
Highlights from the report include:
- Tourism is a major global employer, but widespread poor labour conditions and a lack of decent work create systemic risks, especially for migrant, informal, and undeclared workers
- Establishing multi-stakeholder initiatives with robust policy, legislative and compliance frameworks and increasing access to unions and reputable experts on labour and human rights will be key to building a sustainable industry
- Developing and implementing policies and processes with clear, measurable objectives for improving labour and human rights are critical
IUF General Secretary Sue Longley stated, “Too many tourism companies hide behind certification schemes and fake claims to be protecting the environment when what are really doing is cutting costs and making work ever more precarious. This report confirms that they need to engage with trade unions, global and national, and together we can turn corporate claims into tangible improvements in the daily lives of travel and tourism workers.”
