Workers’ accommodation: processes and standards

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Workers’ accommodation: 
processes and standards
A guidance note by IFC and the EBRD

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IFC/EBRD
| Guidance on Workers’ Accommodation
 
The EBRD
is an international financial institution that supports 
projects from central Europe to central Asia. Investing primarily 
in private sector clients whose needs cannot be fully met by 
the market, we foster transition towards open and democratic 
market economies. In all our operations we follow the highest 
standards of corporate governance and sustainable development. 
IFC
, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity 
for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster 
sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting 
private sector development, mobilising private capital, and 
providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses 
and governments. Our new investments totalled US$ 15 billion 
in fiscal 2009, helping play a prominent role in addressing 
the financial crisis. For more information, visit www.ifc.org. 
About this guidance note
This Guidance Note is aimed at providing practical guidance 
to IFC and EBRD specialists, consultants and clients on the 
processes and standards that should be applied to the provision 
of workers’ accommodation in relation to projects funded by IFC 
or the EBRD. Applying appropriate standards to the construction 
and operation of worker housing falls within the performance 
requirements on labour and working conditions expected of clients 
by both institutions. The Guidance Note also provides examples 
of good practice approaches that businesses have successfully 
applied in their operations. IFC and the EBRD have not financed 
all the projects or companies mentioned in the Note. Some of the 
information in the Note originates from publicly available sources 
such as company web sites. IFC and the EBRD have not verified 
the accuracy of such information nor the companies’ practices. 
This Guidance Note is not intended to establish policy itself; 
and any issues arising in an IFC- or EBRD-financed project will 
be assessed and addressed in the context of the particular 
circumstances of that project. The EBRD and IFC recognise 
that there are no comprehensive international regulations 
relating to workers’ accommodation, and that good and best 
practices are constantly evolving. The EBRD and IFC intend 
to update this Guidance Note to reflect such developments, 
and would welcome feedback and comments from users 
to contribute to this process. Comments should be sent to 
[e-mail] and [e-mail] 
Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1
INTRODUCTION
2