Report accuses major global companies of undermining democracy and violating human rights

A recent report by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) harshly criticizes some of the world’s largest companies, including Amazon, Tesla, and Meta, for their practices that allegedly undermine global democracy and violate labor and human rights.

Published during the United Nations Future Summit in New York, the document accuses these corporations of financing far-right political movements and negatively influencing global policymaking.

The report details how companies such as ExxonMobil, Blackstone, Vanguard and Glencore use their influential lobbying arms to shape policies in several countries, undermining fundamental rights.

Todd Brogan, ITUC’s director of campaigns, expressed concern about the power imbalance, stressing the need for organisation in both the workplace and the citizen sphere to counter corporate influence.

Specific practices mentioned include Amazon’s union-busting, Tesla’s opposition to unions in several countries, and Meta’s allowing far-right propaganda to proliferate on its platforms.

Additionally, Glencore has been accused of funding campaigns against indigenous communities, while Blackstone has been criticized for its support of far-right political movements and investments in fossil fuels.

The report also calls for the creation of a binding international treaty to hold transnational corporations accountable for human rights violations, pointing to the urgent need for international strategies to deal with companies that often wield more power than sovereign states.

With information from The Guardian