Enhancing responsible business practices in key Chinese industries

Press release | 14 November 2019
Forum on Responsible Labour Practices
Beijing (ILO news) – Responsible labour practices help build harmonious labour relations and promote decent work, and are therefore an important engine of sustainable development. These issues were discussed at a Forum on Responsible Labour Practices co-organized by the ILO and the Chinese Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MOHRSS) on November 14 in Chengdu.

The Forum attracted over 80 participants from government, enterprises, sectoral associations, trade unions, international and national organizations. International tools and references on responsible business practices were discussed including the ILO Tripartite Declaration on Multinational Entreprises which is endorsed by the Chinese government and social partners. Participants also shared current status of responsible labour practices in China’s electronic and textile supply chains and their best practices in business operations. Special attention was given to small and medium sized enterprises.

“Implementing responsible labour practices is not only the right thing to do, it also makes good business sense,” said Claire Courteille-Mulder, Director of the ILO Country Office for China and Mongolia, stressing the positive effects of such practices on business’ growth and productivity.

The Forum agreed on a number of recommendations which include the need for specific capacity building programmes targeting micro and small enterprises and for raising awareness on harassment at the workplace.

The event was organized in the framework of the Responsible Supply Chains in Asia Programme, a joint EU-OECD-ILO initiative aimed at enhancing respect for labour rights and the environment in business operations in six Asian countries, including China.

“Under the Memorandum of Understanding signed in May 2018 between the MOHRSS and the ILO to jointly promote decent work in global supply chains, the activities in China are progressing well and are well recognized. We shall continue to raise awareness on these issues to the benefit of Chinese enterprises,” said Jia Jie, Director at the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

For more information about the Responsible Supply Chains in Asia Project, visit www.ilo.org/rsca or contact:
Ms. JI Cuijie
National Project Coordinator in China
ji@ilo.org