Bechtel Helps Launch "Building Responsibly" Initiative to Promote Global Worker Welfare

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Mar 08, 2017, 09:36 ET

RESTON, Va., March 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bechtel, the leading global engineering, procurement, and construction firm today announced the formation of a global coalition aimed at improving worker safety and productivity standards for construction and engineering projects as well as for their relevant supply chains. Together with Amec Foster Wheeler, CH2M, Fluor, Multiplex, and Vinci, Bechtel is launching the Building Responsibly initiative focused on advancing efforts of construction and engineering firms to more effectively align with international human rights frameworks, promote a healthier environment for workers, and further improve project delivery and quality for customers.

"Working with industry is one of the best opportunities we have to progress worker welfare, especially as supply chains and subcontractor relationships are vast, complex, and interconnected," said Tam Nguyen, Bechtel's Global Head of Sustainability. "Through greater collaboration, member companies can better achieve our common goal of safety, productivity, and responsible engagement with our workers and suppliers."

Building Responsibly also enables companies like Bechtel to accelerate their current efforts aimed at sustainability by sharing best practices, developing industry standards and tools, and engaging diverse stakeholders on all aspects of promoting worker welfare.

With a specific focus on marshaling the private sector's role in sustainability efforts, the global non-profit organization Building for Social Responsibility, (BSR) will facilitate the initiative with support from Humanity United.

"Demonstrating the respect for human rights in operations and supply chains will become a minimum requirement to win work in the future," said BSR Managing Director Margaret Jungk. "Companies in Building Responsibly will be able to align their activities and benefit from their collective knowledge and capacity on this issue."

Membership in Building Responsibly is open for engineering and construction companies that are committed to respecting the rights and welfare of workers.

"Humanity United believes companies play a vital role in protecting workers in their supply chains," said Catherine Chen, Director of Investments at Humanity United. "We are pleased to support the formation of Building Responsibly to harness the engineering and construction sector's ingenuity to promote the welfare of workers."

Bechtel, along with the other founding members, participated in the first General Assembly meeting on the 27^th February in London.

About Bechtel:
Bechtel is one of the most respected global engineering, construction, and project management companies. Together with our customers, we deliver landmark projects that create long-term progress and economic growth. Since 1898, we've completed more than 25,000 extraordinary projects across 160 countries on all 7 continents. We operate through four global businesses: Infrastructure; Nuclear, Security & Environmental; Oil, Gas & Chemicals; and Mining & Metals. Our company and our culture are built on more than a century of leadership and a relentless adherence to our values, the core of which are safety, quality, ethics, and integrity. These values are what we believe, what we expect, what we deliver, and what we live. www.Bechtel.com

BSR is a global non-profit organization that works with its network of more than 250 member companies to build a just and sustainable world. From its offices in Asia, Europe, and North America, BSR develops sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and cross-sector collaboration.

Research. Humanity United is a foundation dedicated to bringing new approaches to global problems that have long been considered intractable. We build, lead, support efforts to change the systems that contribute to problems like human trafficking, mass atrocities and violent conflict. Humanity United is part of the Omidyar Group, which represents the philanthropic, personal, and professional of the Omidyar family.

Media contact:
Adi Raval
t. 571 392-3861
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SOURCE Bechtel