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This case study examines how a Japanese company uses CSR and ESG activities to incorporate a new global expansion strategy and strengthen its stakeholders’ relations in different locations around the world. The author uses a case study method with a single setting, and multiple units of analysis and pattern matching among 39 regions and countries, divided into home and host countries. The host countries are additionally divided into ‘developed’, ‘emerging’, and ‘least developed’. This study contributes to the extant literature by showing that both developed and emerging markets create strategic assets for the company. It also proved MNE’s stakeholders in emerging and developed markets determined the CSR practices because many developed countries need CSR activities to support vulnerable groups within their societies. This study explores the under-researched area of MNEs’ CSR activities regarding poverty and development in least-developed countries.

This study reviews national law and practice on both maternity and paternity at work in 185 countries and territories including leave, benefits, employment protection, health protection, breastfeeding arrangements at work and childcare.

This volume focuses on the labour market situation, trends and regulations in emerging economies, devoting attention to how they have dealt with both short-term issues, namely the global financial crisis, and longer-term structural challenges - as well as the gaps that still remain.

The ILO launches its annual report “World of Work Report 2012: Better Jobs for a Better Economy”. The new study examines the performance of different countries since the start of the global crisis through the prism of the quantity and quality of jobs.

Synthesis of a new series of “Studies on Growth with Equity”, this paper by the International Institute for Labour Studies of the ILO shows that growth and equity can be achieved in parallel if the right mix of policies is put in place. It is based on findings from reviews for three countries (Brazil, Germany and Indonesia) which are available hereunder.

This new report is the first in a series to be published annually by the ILO's International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour. It brings together research on child labour and social protection, identifying policies that are designed to achieve multiple social goals. It discusses the role of poverty and economic shocks in rendering households vulnerable to child labour and considers the impact on child labour of cash transfers, public employment programmes, social insurance and other social protection initiatives as they have been implemented around the world.

The second in a series of ILO reports focusing on wage developments, this volume reviews the global and regional wage trends during the years of the economic and financial crisis of 2008 and 2009. In Part I, the report highlights the slow down in the growth of monthly average wages as well as some short-term fluctuations in the wage share. These changes happened against a backdrop of wage moderation in the years before the crisis and a long-term trend of rising wage inequality since the mid-1990s. Part II of the report discusses the role of wage policies in times of crisis and recovery. Collective bargaining and minimum wages can help achieve a balanced and equitable recovery by ensuring that working families share in the fruits of future economic growth. At the same time, preventing the purchasing power of low-paid workers from falling can contribute to a faster recovery by sustaining aggregate demand. The report shows that policy strategies and design are crucial to ensure that low-paid workers benefit from union representation and minimum wages, and argues that wage policies must be complemented with carefully crafted in-work benefits and other income transfers. Part III concludes with a summary of the report and highlights issues that are critical for improving wage policies.

Providing coverage in times of crisis and beyondSocial security systems play a critical role in alleviating poverty and providing economic security, helping people to cope with life's major risks and adapt to change. They can have a remarkable effect on income inequality and poverty in developing countries through income transfers. The 2008/09 financial crisis has shown that they are also powerful economic and social stabilizers, with both short- and long-term effects. However, there are serious problems of access to social security around the world which the crisis has shown into sharp relief, and the financing of systems has been put at risk by shrinking national budgets.The World Social Security Report 2010/11 monitors social security coverage across the world, and examines the role of social security in times of crisis. It maps social security coverage globally and by region or other country grouping, presenting methods and approaches to assessing social security coverage. It also identifies gaps in measurable statistical knowledge on not only social security coverage but its costs and impacts. The report includes full statistical annexes.The World Social Security Report 2010/11 is the first in a new series of ILO reports monitoring social security coverage and is an essential reference for anyone interested in social security issues.

Objective: This research aims to understand the motivations for SMEs from developed countries to engage in open innovation (OI) projects with partners in developing countries. Methodology: We adopted a qualitative approach and studied the case of 16 SMEs from Quebec that successfully carried out OI projects within African countries. Relevance: Despite the growing body of research on OI within SMEs, the international perspective of OI still needs to be explored. In particular, the context of developing countries has received limited attention, especially the motivations for SMEs from developed countries to undertake OI projects in developing countries. Main results: The results show that OI projects with African partners allow SMEs to integrate into African markets and acquire knowledge different from that of developed economies. These partnerships strengthen the overall organizational capacity of the SME beyond the acquisition of specific knowledge related to the innovation project. They also include social objectives to improve local communities living conditions. Theoretical contributions: By addressing the calls for research on OI within developing countries, this article expands the scope of OI in this context. It also contributes to the resource-based view theory by identifying integration within foreign networks as the main strategic resource, motivating SMEs from developed countries to initiate OI projects in developing countries. Managerial contributions: The study provides insights to SMEs from developed countries about the various reasons for implementing OI projects with partners in developing countries. It also offers them tailored advice to carry out such projects successfully.

Report submitted to the delegates of the 101st International Labour Labour Conference for general discussion.