CSR and women empowerment: A comparative study of women in the mining community in Thailand and Lao PDR

Mining industry has considerable potential to help reduce poverty and accelerate human development, through the promotion of gender equity, by increasing government and community revenues and generating employment among women in the community. Most mining multinational corporations (MNCs) exercise their political economy power through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. Most CSR activities by mining MNCs focus on improving economic status and conditions of the local community. Most mining MNCs, however, have been striving to adopt business ideologies and developmental practices that promote equity among men and women. However, it is reported that women in the mining industry still struggle to be at the similar level to men economically and socially. In this paper, we explore the impacts of CSR activities by mining industry in Lao PDR and Thailand. Findings from this study confirm that Thai women remain skeptical about roles and gender issues in the mining industry. A comparative aspect between Thailand and Lao PDR shows that women in the mining community aspire for equity among people of all backgrounds (gender, education, age, and location) to work in this industry. Thai women may perceive employment opportunities as a mean to re-migrate to live with family. They also relate issues on economic empowerment from mining industry to political participation by women in Thailand

How mining multinational corporations promote women? Modus operandi

The purpose of this study is to investigate approaches to the promotion of the involvement of women in the international mining industry. In order to identify approaches to promote women in international mining industry, the researchers adopted an exploratory, interpretive approach to work with mining MNCs in Lao PDR. We interviewed 10 key participants from two mining multinational corporations in Laos. Gender discourses were developed in order to comprehend 'talk' and 'texts' as social practices as well as the concepts of 'women at workplace' from the perspectives of both men and women. The results show that various approaches can be adopted to promote women. They include (1) encouragement of women, (2) promotion of equal opportunity, and (3) celebration of women and diversity. This study also confirms, in traditionally male-dominant industry such as international mining, management requires extra and specific gender-related expert support in order to effectively promote women's participation in the workplace

Responsibility for Poverty: Sustainable Management by Mining Multinational Corporations in the Mekong Countries

This qualitative study explores how mining multinational corporations (MNCs) engage with other stakeholders in alleviating poverty in the host countries. We interviewed CSR managers and team members from six organisations (MNCs and NGOs) in Laos and Thailand. The results confirm that contributions by MNCs in the form of economic and social development require support from various community stakeholders in the host countries. MNCs and stakeholders in international mining should focus on preventive strategies to mitigate chronic poverty in the host countries. This study confirms that local actors can influence the values and directions of MNCs' CSR strategies and actions