CSR 101– the basics

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Posted by Sonnie

May 23, 2006 | 3,429 Views |

Last week, I blogged about corporate social responsibility or CSR and the relevant HR role as strategist. Some readers expressed their excitement to take the strategist role, like K S Ramesh who said

The basics on CSR is accelerating my plan of entry into the field of CSR, as I am having a strong desire to enter with my professional qualification in social work and experience.

But how and where should HR begin? Nersi Khalilifar asked:

The idea is great. How about the technics and mechanism to achieve it. Is there any kind of standard procedural approach…

For purposes of mutual learning, I hope to share the basics of implementing CSR.

1) For the HR strategist, understand what CSR is all about.

CSR in a nutshell, is the responsible behavior of corporations to voluntary improve the quality of life of their constituents and workers, with utmost respect to accepted principles on human rights, labor rights, health and safety, and good governance.

Read related post.

2) Be aware of the emerging CSR Agenda

a) Child-friendly and child-labor free workplaces

b) Equal employment opportunity

c) Expanding social protection to domestic workers

d) Global compact initiatives (labor and human rights, environmental protection and anti corruption)

e) Workplace population management program

3) Sell the idea to your employer, seek his support because this will add value to the organization.

a) Discuss the basic Social Accountability of employers

i) provide decent and acceptable working conditions of employees

ii) an employer’s immediate community in his company are the workers, hence, they live in unison with each other

iii) Risks that would endanger and affect workers may eventually affect the business and vice versa

b) Your employer can contribute to sustainable development by managing operations in such a way as to enhance economic growth and increase competitiveness at the same time ensuring environmental protection and promoting social responsibility in the workplace

c) CSR is the new buzzword in the business community.

d) CSR will benefit not only the employees but even their families and communities.

4) Start it simple, adhere to the labor standards of your country.

*In the Philippines, this would mean

i) Employment Standards

(1) minimum age Art 139, PLC

(2) non discrimination Art 3, Art 135, PLC

(3) regularization Art 280-281, PLC

(4) subcontracting Art 106, PLC

(5) security of tenure Art 279, PLC

(6) night work for women Art 130, PLC

(7) forced labor Art 114, 116, PLC

ii) Workers right

(1) to self organize Art 3, PLC

(2) to strike Art 263-264, PLC

(3) to collective bargaining Art 253-A, PLC

(4) to arbitration Art 260, PLC

iii) Wages

(1) minimum wage Art 99, 120-127

(2) Overtime pay Art 87, PLC

(3) Premium pay on holidays and rest day Art 93-94, PLC

(4) night shift pay Art 86, PLC

(5) 13th month pay PD 851

(6) non diminution of pay Art 100, PLC

iv) Hours of work

(1) 8 hours Art 83, PLC

(2) meal periods Art 85, PLC

(3) weekly rest periods Art 91-92, PLC

(4) Paternity leave RA 8187

v) Health and Safety

(1) Paid maternity leave Art 133, PLC

(2) Medical and dental services Art 156-161

(3) Health and safety Art 162-165

(4) Sexual HarassmentRA 7877

(5) Health Insurance (PhilHealth) RA 7875

vi) Social Security

(1) Employee Compensation Art 166, PLC

(2) Social Security RA 1161 or

(3) GSIS law RA 8291

5) Involve your middle management and the ranks, form a group or committee that will conceptualize and implement CSR projects

6) Get connected with various associations or NGOs that are advocating and assisting corporations in implementing CSR. In the Philippines, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) can help you get started.

7) Eventually, you may want to consult international agencies to accredit your organization as SA compliant. Corporations from 1st world countries would look for these as prerequisite before doing business with another company.

* Set of international standards and norms, which include social accountability, are referred to as “Global Eight” initiatives:

a) The UN Global Compact

b) ILO Conventions

c) The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

d) ISO 14000 Series

e) AccountAbility 1000

f) The Global Reporting Initiative

g) The Global Sullivan Principles

h) Social Accountability 8000

* Taken from Policy Paper on Social Accountability in Philippine Enterprises: Moving Ahead in Advocacy by ECOP and German Technical Cooperation

14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have understanding and power.

15 By me kings reign
and rulers make laws that are just;

16 by me princes govern,
and all nobles who rule on earth

Proverbs 8:14-16 (NIV)

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