Corporate Social Responsibility
ILO discusses Corporate Social Responsibility in the EU and globally
On 3 March, Githa Roelans, Head of the ILO Multinational enterprises and Enterprise engagement unit, took part in a high-level consultation on Corporate Social Responsibility convened by the European Commission (EC).
3 March 2016
Ms Roelans welcomed the references to ILO standards in EU CSR and other policy documents as these references contribute to broader policy coherence and the global level-playing field on decent work, an important global objective as stated in the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals.
She highlighted ILO tools and programmes that the EU could build on to promote a broader uptake of responsible business practices among enterprises within the EU and in third countries. She encouraged the EU to continue to promote the ILO Helpdesk for Business on International Labour Standards, which assists companies in closer aligning their corporate policies and practices with principles of international labour standards, as well as the training courses ILO organizes on business and decent work.
She also referred to self-assessment tools ILO is developing to assist enterprises, governments, employers and workers’ organizations in assessing where they stand in terms of applying the principles of the MNE Declaration, which could also be useful in the context of the upcoming EC Guidelines on non-financial information disclosure.
In third countries, the EU - as part of its trade and development cooperation strategy - could encourage enterprises to join ILO programmes such as the ILO-IFC “Better Work” in the textile sector and SCORE, or other ILO country-level programmes that convene public-private dialogues and action plans on decent work and inclusive growth on the basis of the principles of the MNE Declaration.
Ms Roelans concluded her intervention by reaffirming that the ILO stands ready to further engage with the EU on business and decent work.
She highlighted ILO tools and programmes that the EU could build on to promote a broader uptake of responsible business practices among enterprises within the EU and in third countries. She encouraged the EU to continue to promote the ILO Helpdesk for Business on International Labour Standards, which assists companies in closer aligning their corporate policies and practices with principles of international labour standards, as well as the training courses ILO organizes on business and decent work.
She also referred to self-assessment tools ILO is developing to assist enterprises, governments, employers and workers’ organizations in assessing where they stand in terms of applying the principles of the MNE Declaration, which could also be useful in the context of the upcoming EC Guidelines on non-financial information disclosure.
In third countries, the EU - as part of its trade and development cooperation strategy - could encourage enterprises to join ILO programmes such as the ILO-IFC “Better Work” in the textile sector and SCORE, or other ILO country-level programmes that convene public-private dialogues and action plans on decent work and inclusive growth on the basis of the principles of the MNE Declaration.
Ms Roelans concluded her intervention by reaffirming that the ILO stands ready to further engage with the EU on business and decent work.