It’s a slow day out there*, this first day back from Memorial Weekend so perhaps I’m making a mountain out of a molehill here but it seems that PwC might be stretching the definition of assurance services. Based on various obscure reports, the firm fka PricewaterhouseCoopers has been engaged by Tourism Development ‘&’ Investment Company (“TDIC”) “to monitor its contractors’ and subcontractors’ performance in the area of worker welfare on Saadiyat.”
“Saadiyat” is Saadiyat Island, a “mixed commercial, residential, and leisure project […] expected to be completed in 2020,” according to Wikipedia. This sort of project of course needs manpower, so presumably there will be plethora of construction workers coming from various parts of the world to earn some scratch. Anyhoo, it’s no secret that labor comes cheap in the Middle East and the treatment of workers isn’t the best. In an effort to get those pesky human rights types off their backs, TDIC has called on the most prestigious professional services firm in the world to assure everyone that worker welfare is just fine and dandy and there’s no cause for concern that these workers are living in squalor and being treated like stray dogs:
In stringently monitoring compliance, PwC will report to TDIC on key aspects of worker welfare, including holding of personal documents, illegal recruitment fees, payment of wages, health and safety, and working and living conditions. The results of the audit reports will be released in a comprehensive report to the public on an annual basis. During the reporting cycles, PwC will conduct formal and informal interviews with construction workers in their own language, as well as with the Contractors’ and Sub-Contractors. In gathering facts and reporting their findings, PwC will conduct scheduled and surprise site visits to check contractors’ compliance. They will also be conducting site visits to assess the living and working conditions of the workers.
Considering the fact that Abu Dhabi has an average temperature of 88 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s safe to assume that those “site visits” will be an interesting experience.
PwC to monitor Saadiyat Island contractors’ performance in area of worker welfare [WAM]
*Unless you’re glued to the train wreck in Columbus.
They leaned hard into DEI with this one.
Yeah not subtle about it at all.
Does DEI just mean non-white to you?
There’s a lot of ads with black men wearing glasses, greying beards, wearing business suits etc pitching tech and other high end services. The Madison Ave ad agencies must follow the same formula
KPMG will let you slide on Saturdays mostly, but if you’re not checking in on stuff Sunday night you will be at risk of stinkeye
Yes! “Ben” comes through! That’s “leadership.”
This is the result of a highly financialised civilisation where money plays an outsized role of people’s lives. Money serves a purpose but if it becomes the sole determinant of one’s survival and quality of life, that’s when it becomes problematic.
Gross
Choosing between attending a child birthday party and staying gainfully employed are merely concerns of the entitled. Don’t cry a river with the blue collars and hard hats who make this country great.
Those crying the loudest have no problem with our corrupt welfare system.
Even given the fact that B4 leadership tend to be exceptionally clueless on what normal people value, I still can’t believe the people at Deloitte thought this was a good idea. I legit thought it was satire the first time I saw it.
That guy is obv a virtual background
Don’t kid yourselves. This isn’t just Deloitte. This is the accounting industry as a whole.