Advancing Responsible Business Conduct in India’s manufacturing sector: Insights from the capacity building workshop in Chennai

The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Employers’ Federation of India (EFI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), hosted a capacity building workshop on Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) on 25 July 2025 in Chennai, India. The event convened over 50 participants from more than 30 companies, uniting industry leaders and sustainability experts to explore how responsible business practices can drive sustainable growth and resilience in India’s manufacturing sector.

The workshop emphasized the integration of Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) and Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) into core business strategies. Participants explored how aligning with the principle of international labour standards, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) imperatives, and emerging national regulations—such as the National Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC)—can enhance risk management, stakeholder trust, and long-term sustainability.

In her opening address, Ms Hema Mani, Vice Chairperson of CII Chennai Zone, underscored that RBC is not just about compliance but about embedding ethics, sustainability, and human dignity into business operations. She called for collective action to set new benchmarks for responsible conduct in Indian manufacturing.

Ms Michiko Miyamoto, Director of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for South Asia and Country Office for India, highlighted the need for businesses to go beyond profitability and integrate fairness and decency into their value chains. She emphasized that RBC is distinct from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as it is embedded in daily operations and aligned with international standards.

During the panel discussion, Mr Daniel Dharmaraj, Head, Corporate Sustainability & Management Systems of Brakes India Limited, showcased how strong labour-management relations and workplace improvements enhance productivity and safety. Mr Jaswanth Sharanarthy, Head HR, RML Engine Components Division, Rane Group, emphasized the integration of ESG metrics into corporate governance and the importance of supplier capacity building.

Both leaders advocated for the “Triple P” philosophy — People, Planet, Profit — stressing the importance of focusing on people first. They also emphasized that sustainability is achievable without heavy investment, provided there is consistent commitment.

Many participants highlighted a renewed commitment to embedding RBC principles in their organizations and expressed interest in future learning opportunities. The workshop reaffirmed that Responsible Business Conduct is not optional — it is essential. As India’s manufacturing sector continues to grow, embedding responsible and sustainable practices will be key to building resilient businesses and inclusive economies.

These events were held as part of the ILO’s project 'Building Responsible Value Chains in Asia through the Promotion of Decent Work in Business Operations (Phase II)', funded by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan. The project aims to promote inclusive, responsible and sustainable enterprises and decent work in supply chains through capacity-building programmes for enterprises and ILO’s constituents - government, employers and workers - in four Asian countries including India.