CII Communique November 2012

cover storyto an employment policy that would be in the publicdomain with employment opportunities being postedon company websites to encourage applicants fromsocially disadvantaged sections of society to apply.Organizations are also required to commit to continuingtraining and skilling programmes for these employees byentering into partnership programmes with educationalinstitutions to support and aid students from sociallydisadvantaged sections of society. Members whoadopt this Code of Conduct also resolve to share theirlearnings and experiences with other members. CII haslaunched a dedicated website (www.ciiaffirmativeaction.in) to facilitate this process.It is gratifying that five years down the line, 795companies have signed the CII Code of Conduct onAffirmative Action, and have not only honoured thecommitments of the Code, but have also taken themforward.In line with the significance CII attaches to AffirmativeAction, the organization has regular interactions withmembers at committee and council meetings. Lastyear, a survey was conducted to assess the workbeing done by members in this field. Successfulinitiatives undertaken by members are reported in themagazine, Endeavour, published from all the four CIIregional offices, which disseminates information aboutviable models that can be replicated by others and alsoencourages companies that have not yet committedto Affirmative Action to do so.A very significant step has been CII’s engagement withthe Dalit Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI)that seeks to link Scheduled Caste and ScheduledTribe entrepreneurs with corporate India to encourageSupplier Diversity. In December last year, DICC organizeda trade fair that featured 200 Dalit companies involvedin manufacturing, construction, trading, health, hospitalityand the knowledge industry. This was an importantinitiative to showcase the strength and potential of thisvital sector.CII has also welcomed the new Government policywhereby Government departments and state-runenterprises will give preference to small units in theprocurement of goods and services, with 4% of the20% procurement target being reserved for ScheduledCaste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs. To givegreater impetus to this endeavour, CII has proposedcluster training programmes for SC/ST suppliers to raisequality and assist in streamlining production. This willundoubtedly help integrate this sector into the nationaleconomic mainstream.CII Code of Conduct on Affirmative ActionThe CII Code of Conduct on Affirmative Action is avoluntary commitment to be followed by companies.The Code relates to non-discrimination, assistance,and transparency with respect to employees/applicants/ vendors from the Scheduled Castes andScheduled Tribes communities. The key points of theCode are that the company• Affirms the recognition that its competitiveness isinterlinked with the well-being of all sections ofIndian society.• Believes that equal opportunity in employmentfor all sections of society is a component of itsgrowth and competitiveness. It further believesthat inclusive growth is a component of growthand development of the country.• Affirms the recognition that diversity to reflectsocially disadvantaged sections of society in theworkplace has a positive impact on business.• Will not practice nor support conscious discriminationin any form. Does not bias employment away fromapplicants belonging to disadvantaged sectionsof society if such applicants possess competitiveskills and job credentials as made public.• Selects business partners not based on anyconsiderations other than normal businessparameters. In case of equal business offers, thecompany will select a business partner belongingto a socially disadvantaged section of society.• Has/ will have a written policy statement onAffirmative Action in the workplace.• Has/ will have an employment policy that is inthe public domain. It may place such policiesand employment opportunities on its website toencourage applications from socially disadvantagedsections of society.• Makes / will make all efforts for up-skilling andcontinual training of employees from sociallydisadvantaged sections of society in order toenhance their capabilities, and competitive skills.• Has/will have a partnership programme witheducational institution/s to support and aid studentsfrom socially disadvantaged sections of society.• Makes available its learning and experiences asa good corporate citizen in Affirmative Action toother companies desiring to incorporate suchpolicies in their own business.Communiqué November 2012 | 7