Manpower Inc. undertakes field mission to refugee settlements in Africa
Visit observes plight of refugees & how they can be assisted in regaining the dignity of employment
Manpower Inc. President of Corporate and Government Affairs David Arkless recently undertook a field mission to refugee settlements in South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia from February 16 to 20, 2009. The purpose of the visit was to better understand the plight of refugees and to further identify how Manpower can help them regain the dignity of being employed. David’s participation in the field mission was documented in daily reports which can be viewed on www.manpower.com.
“Manpower stands for the dignity of work and employment opportunities for all. We are therefore committed to making a long-term, significant difference in people's lives through workforce development, disaster recovery, reaching refugees, and combating human trafficking,” said Patrick Luby, Managing Director, Manpower Middle East
David Arkless undertook the field mission to refugee settlements in Africa as a key member of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) Council of Business Leaders. Launched at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in 2005, the Council of Business Leaders comprises Manpower, Microsoft, Nike, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Young and Rubicam + WPP.
“Manpower continues to lead the way in the area of workforce development not only through our own actions, but also by lobbying, generating awareness and leaning on our peers to commit to best practice. Our ongoing work with the UNHCR is an example of leveraging our core competencies in partnership with governments and businesses that help to provide jobs and job training for refugees,” added Luby.
Through programs initiated by its local operations throughout the world, Manpower is making a considerable difference in individuals' lives. Manpower provides people from all walks of life with sustainable livelihood and helps the disadvantaged and disenfranchised survive and thrive by linking them to work. Manpower’s role as an agent of positive social change, particularly in the area of workforce development, forms the cornerstone of Manpower's social responsibility agenda.
As part of Manpower Middle East’s commitment to corporate responsibility, Patrick Luby and David Arkless recently attended the “Human Trafficking at the Crossroads Private-Public Partnership” conference in Bahrain. The event was organized by the Bahrain Foreign Ministry and the Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement and was dedicated to discussions on how governments and private sector organisations can work together to end human trafficking throughout the world. Keynote speakers at the event included H.H. Sheikha Sabeeka Bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Suzanne Mubarek, wife of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and David Arkless.
Manpower received recognition for its social responsibility efforts in 2008. The company was named to the FTSE4Good Index Series, a securities index created by the Financial Times Stock Exchange for companies that meet criteria in conducting socially responsible business practices globally. Manpower was also selected by the Ethisphere Institute for its second annual list of the World's Most Ethical Companies for 2008.
Furthermore, Manpower also recently introduced a new global procurement procedure designed to ensure that all its vendors adhere to the company’s strict guidelines to eliminate forced labor, human trafficking and corrupt business practices.
Manpower entered the Middle East market through the acquisition of Clarendon Parker Middle East, the region’s largest staffing solutions provider. This partnership leverages 14 years of local experience with global expertise and best practice to provide tailored recruitment, employee assessment and training, outsourcing, and consulting services to its clients. Aside from its regular operations, Manpower Middle East conducts various activities to raise awareness on the relevance of recruitment companies and how they can help job candidates find meaningful and rewarding work.
