For the past decade, the United Kingdom has tried to make companies more directly accountable for forced labor in their supply chains. But lawyers warn that the government’s latest plans to beef up protections against worker violations risk being heavily watered down and poorly policed by regulators.
ESG/Social Responsibility
Posted inBoards & Shareholders
Apple bucks trend in Big Tech, defies anti-DEI headwinds
Apple, one of the most valuable tech giants on the planet, is pushing back against pressure to stop diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, saying that “a culture of belonging” remains a core value of the organization.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
SEC enforcement priorities under Trump: Fewer disclosures, less ESG-focused, more crypto
Change is likely coming to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s enforcement priorities with the pending handover of the White House to Republican President-elect Donald Trump. Adjust your compliance priorities accordingly.
Posted inEurope
EU Deforestation Directive delayed, experts advise compliance managers to not rest on laurels
If your business uses leather, rubber, wood, beef, palm oil, soy, or paper, then you may need to comply with the EU Deforestation Directive, a new rule intended to ensure that no goods traded in the EU contribute to global deforestation.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
SEC orders Invesco to pay $17.5M over misleading investors about ESG assets
Invesco Advisors agreed to pay $17.5 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission to settle allegations that the company misled investors about the extent of its assets that included environmental, social, and governance factors.
Posted inEurope
EU businesses will soon have to report on supply chains and sustainability. Not all are ready
Supply chains are about to become the next big thing in sustainability compliance. However, many organizations still lack the data and assurance capabilities to track sustainability and human rights activities across their extended supply chains – which is required by the EU’s CS3D. Many others that fall out of scope of the directive may not realize that, as part of the supply chain, they will need to provide a host of new data to their larger clients.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
WisdomTree pays $4M SEC fine for including fossil fuel, tobacco securities in ESG funds
Fund management company WisdomTree will pay $4 million to settle allegations by the Securities and Exchange Commission that it improperly invested in fossil fuel and tobacco companies in environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds despite promising to avoid them.
Posted inEthics & Culture
What’s your risk appetite? EU firms grapple with ‘ridiculously complex’ ESG reporting rules
Discussions on the increasingly complex ESG rules in the EU were the crux of some conversations at Compliance Week Europe, a two-day conference in Amsterdam Oct. 15-16. The event brought together Compliance Week and its sister organization, the International Compliance Association, and more than 200 GRC professionals across industries.
Posted inEthics & Culture
AI and government: How Trump or Harris presidency will differ on policy, regulation
AI may be one of the hottest things in the business world but former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris haven’t devoted much time to discussing the technology. Still, each candidate has offered a few clues as to how they would govern over this next wave of innovation.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
‘Biblically responsible’ investment adviser ordered to pay $300K over misleading investors
A “biblically responsible” investment adviser agreed to pay $300,000 and hire an independent compliance consultant to settle charges with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it misled investors, along with other compliance failures.
