British Prime Minister David Cameron’s trade delegation to China was missing specialists on poverty reduction, environmental degradation and labor rights, according to a research fellow at the Overseas Development Institute.
Such experts are “trusted both by the private sector and civil society to ensure that business is carried out in an ethical way,” writes Jonathan Glennie in the Guardian’s “Poverty Matters” blog.
The British public, Glennie argues, has repeatedly opposed profits gained at the expense of the environment and labor rights.
“As western countries and businesses realize how much more they will have to compete in the years ahead to keep their economies booming they should not lose their moral compass,” Glennie writes.
“Rather than just following money, they should take pride in high standards of business, even if this means higher costs. These experts should be regarded as integral and respected players on trade missions. Having them on the team would send a simple message: We put people before profit, even in a recession,” he concludes.
