The Mekong Club

Just a reminder that the Better Buying Partnership Index ratings cycle is open for supplier ratings until October 31st. The Mekong Club is encouraging #members to share the survey with your suppliers, and inviting them to participate so that they can rate your #purchasingpractices. It is #free, and completely #anonymous, for suppliers to complete, and it takes a supplier just 10 minutes to rate each of their buyer customers. 📈 The data and insights are fed back to #brands and #retailers, with recommendations as to how to improve. 👕 If Better Buying receives enough ratings for Mekong Club members, they will be able to generate a score and aggregated report for Mekong Club members, identifying trends and challenges, highlighting where we need to focus our improvement efforts, and providing a roadmap towards responsible purchasing. Please share this QR code with your suppliers, and invite them to rate your purchasing practices before the deadline of October 31st. https://lnkd.in/gHE5JKCp

How can you address modern slavery and human trafficking in a rapidly evolving global economy? Stephen Farrer, a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist and Certified Fraud Examiner, will be sharing his insights at the upcoming International Financial Sector Alliance Against Modern Slavery program. What are your thoughts on this increasingly relevant issue? This free, exclusive international program, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and supported by ACAMS Australasian Chapter, offers a unique opportunity to learn how to effectively address modern slavery risks in project financing through a human rights due diligence approach. Make a difference and become a thought leader in your sector. To learn more and register, follow the link: https://buff.ly/3Y0oLR5.

Congratulations to Matthew Friedman and The Mekong Club on receiving the prestigious SCCE International Award! We’re incredibly honoured to be recognised for our work in addressing human trafficking and modern slavery. Matthew’s insightful presentation at the #SCCEcei in Grapevine, Texas, highlighted the crucial role the private sector plays in addressing these complex issues. By working collaboratively with businesses, we’re able to leverage their expertise and resources to make a significant impact. Together, we’re creating a safer and more just world for all. Thank you to our partners for their unwavering commitment to this important cause. #HumanTrafficking #ModernSlavery #Compliance #SCCE

Did you know that financial institutions can play a crucial role in addressing modern slavery? Aub Chapman, our second expert speaker, will be sharing his insights at the upcoming International Financial Sector Alliance Against Modern Slavery program. What controls has your institution put in place to mitigate modern slavery risks? Aub Chapman, a career banker with over 42 years of experience, retired from Westpac Banking Corporation in 2003. Since then, he has become a specialist consultant in financial crime prevention, providing expertise to global organizations. Aub is also a founding member of the ACAMS Australasian Chapter, holds CAMS-Audit certification, and was named the ACAMS AML Professional of the Year in 2009. This exclusive international program, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and supported by ACAMS Australasian Chapter, offers a unique opportunity to learn how to effectively address modern slavery risks in project financing through a human rights due diligence approach. Make a difference and become a thought leader in your sector. To learn more and register, follow the link: https://buff.ly/4eb7NFh. #FinancialCrimePrevention #ModernSlaveryAwareness #SustainableInvesting #FinancialRegulation

SMEs are essential to ensuring the successful implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (#CSDDD). To support this critical role, The Mekong Club and EuroCham Vietnam co-organised an interactive training session aimed at empowering SMEs in Vietnam with the knowledge and practical tools to identify, prevent, and mitigate labour risks within their operations and supply chains. 🗒 49 participants attended the session in Vietnamese, and 30 participants joined the session in English. Both groups were highly engaged, discussing ILO indicators, actionable strategies for addressing labour risks, and emphasising the need for comprehensive support to help SMEs implement due diligence requirements effectively. 🔎 For SMEs looking to take the next step, The Mekong Club Supplier Portal provides free resources to help companies identify and manage forced labour risks in their supply chains. (https://lnkd.in/g_ixGpem) A big thank you to KKR, EuroCham Vietnam, and our partner Raise Partners for their support in making this event a success! Congrats Giang Nguyen and Clémence Aron for delivering an engaging training session, and Marieke van der Pijl for opening the session. #CSDDD #Compliance #HRDD #forcedlabour #SMEs #Sustainablebusiness #Supplychainmanagement"

Nuestro Director de Programa para Latinoamérica, Sebastián Arévalo Sánchez, fue recientemente entrevistado por el periódico La Mañana , acerca de la creciente amenaza del crimen organizado en Uruguay. Sebastián destaca la conexión entre el lavado de dinero y la trata de personas, enfatizando la necesidad de cooperación regional para abordar estos problemas. Lee el artículo completo para obtener más información https://buff.ly/4e6Zytw

Is it ever okay to “cut and run” from a problematic supplier? Our latest blog explores the complex ethical and strategic dilemma of disengagement in supply chains. We discuss the pros and cons of both "cut and run" and "responsible disengagement" strategies. Read more: https://buff.ly/4gsPSeC #supplychain #ethics #humanrights #sustainability #business

How can your institution integrate Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) and ESG principles into their day-to-day operations? Julia Chin 陈碧茹, MICA, aka Compliance Blackbelt, will be sharing her insights at the upcoming International Financial Sector Alliance Against Modern Slavery Program. What steps has your institution already taken to incorporate HRDD and ESG principles into its routine practices? This exclusive international program, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and supported by ACAMS Australasian Chapter, offers a unique opportunity to learn how to effectively address modern slavery risks in project financing through a human rights due diligence approach. Make a difference and become a thought leader. To learn more and register, follow the link: https://buff.ly/47t4K8R. #HRDD #Compliance #ESG #Australia #NewZealand #PacificIslands

Our team joined ReThink HK conference in Hong Kong this week. It was fantastic to connect with industry peers, members and new partners. Matthew Friedman, our CEO, delivered an inspirational speech at the Catalysing Cross-Sector Collaboration for Sustainable Change session, emphasising the importance of collective action. Our Programme Director, Clémence Aron and our Senior Programme Manager, Amelia Smith participated in a workshop, led by Pia Wong and Marianna Lemus Boskovitch, on Social Impact Measurement. During this session, Clémence introduced our updated Baseline Assessment. 📈The Mekong Club Baseline Assessment tool aims to analyse your internal capacity to address modern slavery risks. It helps you benchmark against peers, bridge internal gaps and prepare for CSRD and CSDDD compliance. We are looking forward to reconnecting with the inspiring people we met at the conference and to continuing the conversation.

What role can the private sector play in addressing modern slavery? Matthew Friedman, CEO of The Mekong Club, explores this important topic in his latest article. With over 50 million people affected by modern slavery, businesses have a vital opportunity to make a significant impact. Learn how the private sector can lead the way in driving meaningful change and supporting efforts to end this pressing issue. https://buff.ly/3MHZbtq Thank you to Hinrich Foundation for highlighting this important conversation. #EndModernSlavery #BusinessForChange #CorporateResponsibility #HumanRights