SMS Labor Link: A Systemic Approach to Ending Poverty & Injustice for Informal Workers in the Developing World
Location
Oakland
United States
37° 48' 15.7392" N, 122° 16' 14.8908" W
See map: Google Maps
Informal workers are described as the most disadvantaged workers in global supply chains, where there is little enforcement of minimum wage or labor laws. Research cites that there are an estimated 250 to 400 million informal homeworkers living in poverty worldwide. Child labor, debt bondage, and dangerous working conditions are regularly reported. SMS Labor Link uses uses affordable and widely available technology to educate workers and engage companies doing business with them to adopt the best practices for informal workers.
Reason:
This project is unique and important in two significant ways. One, it is the first worker-centric monitoring system of global supply chains. By communicating directly with workers, supply chain transparency exists, enabling valuable connections to be made with workers. Two, it focuses exclusively on informal workers, a class of workers that have the least rights and most minimal access to information that can change their lives. These two facts combined can substantially raise wages and bring the training and rights awareness needed to decrease child labor and debt bondage in today's global supply chains.
This project is unique and important in two significant ways. One, it is the first worker-centric monitoring system of global supply chains. By communicating directly with workers, supply chain transparency exists, enabling valuable connections to be made with workers. Two, it focuses exclusively on informal workers, a class of workers that have the least rights and most minimal access to information that can change their lives. These two facts combined can substantially raise wages and bring the training and rights awareness needed to decrease child labor and debt bondage in today's global supply chains.
Organization: World of Good Development Organization
First name: Ella
Last name: Silverman
City: Oakland
Country: United States
