Tackling inequality: An agenda for business action

The flagship report of the Business Commission to Tackle Inequality

This report, Tackling inequality: An agenda for business action, provides the global business community with a clear and compelling case for business efforts to tackle inequality, as well as a common and holistic agenda for private sector action.

CEOs and business leaders from all sectors can leverage this report and the agenda it puts forward to identify, assess and strategically integrate steps to address inequality-related risks and opportunities, and to drive transformative change in people’s lives.

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Catalytic actions for business to tackle inequality

The BCTI has identified 10 actions that individual companies can take, and that stakeholders increasingly expect them to take, as part of efforts to address mounting inequality.

Action 1

Implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

Adopting policies and practices that put respect for human dignity at the center of how business gets done

Action 2

Make essential products and services more accessible and affordable

Innovating and collaborating to ensure that all people have what they need to be healthy and productive

Action 3

Create a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace and value chain

Fostering work environments and markets in which all individuals are empowered to participate, prosper and reach their full potential

Action 4

Prepare people for the future of work

Building a workforce that is skilled and empowered to benefit from the developments that are transforming the world of work

Action 5

Provide safe, secure and sufficient work

Ensuring that the terms and conditions of work protect and enhance the physical, mental, social and financial health and wellbeing of all workers

Action 6

Pay and promote living wages and incomes

Eradicating poverty wages and ensuring that everyone who works earns enough to afford a decent standard of living

Action 7

Support and respect worker representation

Giving workers greater ability to affect corporate decision-making about the terms and conditions under which they work

Action 8

Support effective public policy

Helping to propel government toward greater and more impactful action on inequality

Action 9

Adopt responsible tax practices

Approaching tax as an essential part of good governance and a fundamental investment in the societies where business operates

Action 10

Realize the just transition to a net-zero and nature positive economy

Acting in line with science to address the climate emergency and restore nature, while leveraging these transformations to advance shared prosperity

The case for business action

Business action to tackle inequality is about mitigating risk while also building a world of opportunity in which everyone, including business, can thrive.

Strengthening the operating environment for business

Building political stability
Increasing economic growth
Containing crises

Unlocking company level benefits

Securing license to operate

Attracting and retaining talent

Winning consumers

Accessing capital

Building resilient supply chains

Staying ahead of regulatory change

Explore more in the full report, including:

Details of emerging business risks and opportunities.
Case studies from leading companies.
Guidance on how to get started on business strategies in support of tackling inequality.

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A word from our co-chairs

The BCTI’s flagship report is a call to action to business leaders. It provides a clear and compelling case for business action to tackle inequality, as well as a comprehensive, credible and impactful action agenda that business leaders can leverage to help build a world of opportunity for all.

Peter Bakker President & CEO, WBCSD

Today we are seeing the consequences of inequality unfold around the world. But inequality is not a fact of nature; it is a product of our systems and practices, which we can change.

Ilham Kadri CEO, Syensqo

Addressing inequality is not only a moral obligation but a business imperative to ensure long-term economic growth. Crucial to that growth is a just global transition to net zero that will help address growing inequality by putting people at the center of the transition.

Lynn Forester de Rothschild Founder and CEO, Council for Inclusive Capitalism

Business has a powerful role to play in reducing inequality and making it possible for all people to live the kinds of lives they aspire to. Olam has seen this through our efforts to improve incomes and living standards in smallholder farming communities. Collaboration across industry, with government and other stakeholders is vital to delivering more opportunities to more people.

Sunny Verghese Co-Founder and Group CEO, Olam Agri

We know that current trends are exacerbating the divide between knowledge workers, skilled and unskilled workers. Unless we act now, we will see a further bifurcation of opportunity and wealth creation by gender, race, education, skill set, and now remote versus onsite workers, which is not good for business or society.

Jonas Prising Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, ManpowerGroup

Businesses can play a transformative role in tackling inequality by fashioning innovative business models that support sustainable livelihoods. At ITC, our experience on the ground has underlined how imperative it is to develop inclusive value chains, strengthen climate resilience and build capabilities for tomorrow, especially for farmers and rural communities.

Sanjiv Puri Chairman & Managing Director, ITC Limited