Arkansas Global Connect receives recognition for responsible recruitment practices

Arkansas Global Connect, which provides U.S. businesses with reliable seasonal labor, announced Tuesday (Oct. 22) it has received Clearview certification for demonstrating ethical labor practices.

This represents a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing commitment to fair and transparent recruitment practices and showcases Arkansas Global Connect (AGC) as a global leader in offering businesses trustworthy, transparent, and compliant staffing services.

Clearview is a worldwide responsible recruitment certification program for labor recruiters created and managed by Stronger Together. It aims to ensure all workers are recruited responsibly and have fair work, free from exploitation. Through this audit-based certification, AGC joins a small circle of third-party verified ethical international labor recruiters.

“Arkansas Global Connect was founded with a dedication to ethically supporting the workers we staff and the employers whose needs we meet,” said AGC founder Dana Deree. “There is no reason why global recruiting can’t be business-friendly while ensuring hardworking people from humble backgrounds are valued and treated well. I’m honored that Clearview’s thorough auditing process has verified that our practices and policies reflect that commitment.”

Launched in Arkansas in 2021 and acquired last April by South Carolina-based BDV Solutions, AGC has earned a reputation for ethical and efficient international staffing and consulting. Primarily utilizing non-immigrant H-2A and H-2B seasonal work visas, the firm has placed workers in multiple sectors including hospitality, food processing, agriculture, manufacturing and retail.

Clients include internationally known companies from around the country as well as small and mid-sized enterprises otherwise unable to attract and retain a sufficient number of U.S. employees.

“We are thrilled to recognize Arkansas Global Connect for their commitment to ethical recruitment through the Clearview certification,” said Veronica Ospina, U.S. & Mexico Program Manager, Stronger Together. “This certification highlights AGC’s dedication to leading practices that safeguard vulnerable workers and mitigate the risks associated with unethical recruitment. Ethical recruitment is key to eliminating exploitation, and it must become the norm across all labor supply chains and industries. Only then can both people and businesses truly thrive.”

To achieve certification, AGC underwent a rigorous independent audit of its recruitment management systems. An independent audit body, trained and licensed in the Clearview methodology, visited randomly selected worksites and assessed AGC across a set of technical standards and control points developed by industry experts and mapped against leading international and national practices and standards such as the IOM International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS) code of conduct, the ILO Fair Recruitment initiative, the Institute of Business and Human Rights Dhaka Principles and Employer Pays Principle, Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

“I am proud of the AGC team, which meets a tremendous need in the U.S. economy, keeps prices down for consumers, and strengthens the food chain while providing good-paying legal opportunities for people from abroad who can better provide for their families while building a hopeful future in their home communities,” Deree said.

Talk Business & Politics Editor-in-Chief Roby Brock interviewed Deree on the company’s growth and new recognition. Watch the full interview below.