Labor and Working Conditions: Insights from CAO Cases

Summary

The Advisory Note “Labor and Working Conditions: Insights from CAO Cases” is part of CAO’s Advisory Insight Series on Strategic E&S Topics. It examines IFC’s and MIGA’s approach to managing labor risks and protecting workers in the projects they support, focusing on waters and terms of employment, freedom of association, and workers’ grievance mechanisms. 

Drawing on more than a decade of CAO case experience, staff interviews, benchmarking against international standards, and emerging labor trends, the report identifies opportunities to strengthen Performance Standard 2, improve labor due diligence and supervision, and better protect workers in IFC-financed and MIGA-supported projects.