CSR News from around ASEAN

Stakeholders gathered to discuss challenges and solutions in addressing MSME financial gap

How can we address the missing middle financing gap for MSMEs? ACN convened a Roundtable on Financial Inclusion for MSMEs in ASEAN  on 27 June 2018 in Singapore to discuss this key finding of a report conducted with ASEAN-Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), Oxfam and AVPN.The missing middle gap refers a finding that early- to growth-stage MSMEs requiring ticket sizes of between USD5,000 to USD2 million remain underserved by financiers, usually exceeding upper thresholds for microfinance, but are perceived by financial institutions to be too small and costly.

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ACN addresses the MSMEs financial gap in its monthly topical webinar

ASEAN CSR Network organised a Webinar on Financial Inclusion of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) on  21 June 2018.

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ACN works with ILO to promote decent work in ASEAN

ACN's CEO Mr Thomas Thomas (middle) met with ILO's Director General Mr Guy Ryder (right) on 13 June 2018 in Singapore to discuss the promotion of the Decent Work agenda in the region and on safe migration of labour.

ASEAN’s rapid rise over the past few decades has been driven primarily by what can be called Factory Asia. As one of the world’s largest workshops, the region provided cheap and abundant labour, producing many of the consumer goods the world demands. While the AEC will provide greater mobility for workers, so far the discussions have been focused on skilled workers and professionals in specific sectors. The bigger challenge of protecting the rights of the majority of workers, particularly migrant workers, in the region in semi- and low-skilled sectors is yet to be addressed. If proper labour protection measures are not followed, ASEAN expansion, especially expansion of the manufacturing industry and related sectors, may only serve to further worsen the wealth and income inequality in the region, with the poor losing out on an opportunity to uplift their lives.

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ACN calls on businesses to respect and support children's rights

Little children are always lovely.  They are adorable.  They tell the truth, sometimes painfully and can get away with things we adults will never be forgiven.  Our hearts bled for them.  The concept of child rights is not new.  Yet the exploitation of children has continued to this day.  Why is this so?  What can we do about it?  Just because there had been shortcomings, we should not be weary in continuing to work for children.

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