Global Compact International Yearbook Ausgabe 2013

More documents

Recommendations

Info

With the fall of Apartheid in 1994, did South African companies implement CSR programs voluntarily or did they rather feel the pressure of democratization and the need to comply with international labor standards? After 1994, many companies were keen to build their legitimacy and create a good impression with the new government. Much of this was done through CSI, as mentioned above. Many companies built schools, for instance. In parallel, the new government embarked on an ambitious policy and law review, based on the 1996 Constitution. These included progressive labor relations, occupational health and safety, anti-discrimination, environmental and natural resource laws (most of which were published in the latter half of the 1990s). These have had an important impact on the regulatory pressures on business, though the state’s enforcement capacity has been limited. I have argued that there is thus a quasi-voluntary character to legal compliance, especially if companies attempt to comply with the spirit of this new legislation, rather than merely the letter. Then, of course, there was the black economic empowerment policy, which was also promulgated as an act, as well as subject of numerous sector-specific “charters.” This sought to address the racially skewed ownership and management structures in the economy. One of the most prominent charters was the one in the mining industry (2002), and a bit later in the finance sector. Many of these charters were the result of corporatist (business-government-stakeholder) negotiations, and they identified sector-specific targets for ensuring: ownership of companies would be transferred to black people; management positions would be held by black people; and employment equity / affirmative action. There were also sector-specific targets – for example, conversion of hostels in the mining sector, increased access to banking in the finance sector. Generally, there was an expectation that about 1 percent of profit would go toward socio-economic development, that is, CSI. What are the drivers of CSR in South Africa? Is it merely voluntary? Or is it the government, for example by regulating the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) or labor laws? There is a confluence of drivers, and their influence also varies, depending on the sector and size of the company, as well as the specific social or environmental issue that is at stake. I think state regulations have been very important, especially in areas such as labor relations and environmental protection. The state’s enforcement capacity has been a problem, especially in small, dispersed operations. Public regulations have also been important. This includes the JSE’s listing requirements, which rely on the King codes of corporate governance. The latter has been very influential in driving sustainability reporting and, more recently, integrated reporting. There have also been international pressures, including regulations of the London and New York stock exchanges, which have influenced some of the big South African companies that have listed there, and which have provided some “best practice” leadership in South Africa. Human Rights In a report, you said that UN attempts to formally apply international human rights laws in the private sector in 1990 and 2003 were unsuccessful. What does the link look like in sub-Saharan Africa today? Well, those earlier attempts subsequently led to the appointment of John Ruggie as UN Special Representative on business and human rights. His “three pillars” framework has been very helpful and influential, in that it clarifies and codifies what is expected of business. The second – and final – report by Ruggie was published in 2011, and since then there have been numerous initiatives to provide companies with more detailed guidance. There is more scope, however, for companies to recognize human rights as the overarching framework that guides their CSR activities. At the same time, the human rights framing emphasizes “do no harm,” and it leaves out the opportunities for business to make positive contributions through processes, products, business models, or systems innovations. In conflict zones, such as in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, we experience the problem of “limited statehood” and hence a lack of human rights and responsibility toward communities. Can and should companies’ CSR fill this gap? 64 Global Compact International Yearbook 2013
Agenda CSR in Africa This is a significant challenge. On the one hand, some companies are beginning to fill this gap because they recognize that some minimum provision of public goods and rule enforcement is necessary for their business, and also desired by local stakeholders. On the other hand, this is problematic because it may create a dependency on companies. This is not just a phenomenon in places such as the DRC; it is also happening in South Africa, where some municipalities are just unable to provide public services. I think the big challenge is for companies to contribute to developing state capacity, without co-opting the state to suit their interests. Environment and Green Business Woolworths’ managers in South Africa set out to develop a program of direct engagement with the farmers in their supply chain to enhance their productivity, focusing in part on irrigation techniques. Is this a rare example of “green economy,” or is this sector on the rise in South Africa? What is its status today when compared to industrialized countries? I think the Woolworths “Farming for the Future” (FfF) program is quite unusual. You have a company with significant public sustainability commitments made by the CEO, and you also have a sophisticated middle management that was capable of sensing the problems encountered by farmers. Also pertinent is this company’s emphasis on high-quality, fresh produce and emphasis on long-term relationships with key farmers … these factors provided the motives and the capabilities for the FfF program. Though I have said that initiatives such as FfF are unusual, I think more companies are recognizing their reliance on a sustainable value chain, and they are thinking about more systemic approaches to addressing these problems. Another prominent example is SAB’s work on water. In the run-up to Rio+20, you said there will be much discussion on the transfer of environmental technologies to developing countries. Has the 2012 conference resulted in any real progress for African companies’ CSR? social impacts, mines, of course, also have far-reaching environmental impacts, which, in turn, have social implications. Has the “Marikana incident” led to a rethinking among mining companies about the way in which they tackle social wrongs around mining sites? (In August 2012 more than 40 people died in a wildcat strike at Lonmin’s Marikana mine.) There has been much debate and some important suggestions have been made, for example changing the migrant labor arrangements so that migrants return home more often. But I have not heard of any actual changes being implemented. There is a discussion about the “de facto government” of mining companies in the informal settlements around mining sites, in addition to some social investments that are territorial. Is there a real risk of mining communities being at the sole mercy of those “mining governments,” instead of a local government? Yes, some communities are becoming very dependent on mining companies. This is a problem because the companies are not formally accountable to the communities. Of course the problem is amplified when the mine scales-down or closes. Anti-Corruption Corruption is a significant problem in South African society. Local Global Compact Network advised the sectors of healthcare and construction, and the awarding of mining licenses should be more closely scrutinized. What are your recommendations? UN Global Compact companies should collectively emphasize the transparency movement, including a call for all party funding to be made public. The fact that this is being resisted by the African National Congress and opposition parties is deeply problematic. It would be great for companies to make a committed stand on this. It would have far-reaching effects. None that I am aware of. Labor Standards For which reasons do mining companies take a special role in the South African and sub-Saharan African private sector when it comes to CSR? Mining is the foundation for the development of the southern African economy, as well as the development of the state and colonial and apartheid economic systems. The migrant labor system had significant implications for the development of towns, as well as the (under) development of rural areas. Mining still has significant economic significance and employs large numbers of unionized workers. In areas such as Rustenburg, mining accounts for an overwhelming proportion of employment and economic development. Over and above significant Ralph Hamann is research director and associate professor at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town (UCT). Global Compact International Yearbook 2013 65
Page 1 and 2:
we support Global Compact Internati
Page 3 and 4:
GC International Yearbook Greeting
Page 5 and 6:
Agenda Keynote /Keynote///Keynote//
Page 7 and 8:
GOOD PRACTICE Human Rights 74 Air F
Page 9 and 10:
Agenda Stakeholder Management STAKE
Page 11 and 12:
Agenda Stakeholder Management /Keyn
Page 13 and 14: Agenda Stakeholder Management In th
Page 15 and 16: Agenda Stakeholder Management Group
Page 17 and 18: Agenda Stakeholder Management Stake
Page 19 and 20: Agenda Stakeholder Management legit
Page 21 and 22: Agenda Stakeholder Management (buff
Page 23 and 24: Agenda Stakeholder Management tight
Page 25 and 26: Agenda Stakeholder Management Respo
Page 27 and 28: Agenda Stakeholder Management “
Page 29 and 30: Agenda Stakeholder Management Multi
Page 31 and 32: Agenda Climate Change Global Compac
Page 33 and 34: Agenda Climate Change /Keynote///Ke
Page 35 and 36: Agenda Climate Change Pressure on i
Page 37 and 38: Agenda Climate Change lease the pan
Page 39 and 40: Agenda Climate Change World 32,042
Page 41 and 42: Agenda Climate Change change potent
Page 43 and 44: Agenda Climate Change By Julie-Anne
Page 45 and 46: Agenda Climate Change meet this nee
Page 47 and 48: Agenda Climate Change So why are we
Page 49 and 50: Agenda Climate Change Upcoming In a
Page 51 and 52: Agenda CSR in Africa Global Compact
Page 53 and 54: Agenda CSR in Africa though, has be
Page 55 and 56: Agenda CSR in Africa investments ar
Page 57 and 58: Agenda CSR in Africa World Cocoa Fo
Page 59 and 60: Agenda CSR in Africa Selected Activ
Page 61 and 62: Agenda CSR in Africa The problem is
Page 63: Inside ... Agenda CSR in Africa aFr
Page 67 and 68: Agenda CSR in Africa By Prof. Bonni
Page 69 and 70: Agenda CSR in Africa appropriate pu
Page 71 and 72: 98 74 168 110 76 136 80 100 170 130
Page 73 and 74: Human Rights 74 76 80 82 84 86 88 9
Page 75 and 76: Good Practice Human Rights The Air
Page 77 and 78: Good Practice Human Rights Ever sin
Page 79 and 80: Good Practice Human Rights In Augus
Page 81 and 82: Good Practice Human Rights and cont
Page 83 and 84: Good Practice Human Rights CCC Kaza
Page 85 and 86: Good Practice Human Rights 1. All a
Page 87 and 88: Good Practice Human Rights neighbor
Page 89 and 90: Good Practice Human Rights The Chan
Page 91 and 92: Good Practice Human Rights In 2004
Page 93 and 94: Good Practice Human Rights their bu
Page 95 and 96: Good Practice Human Rights Zinc is
Page 97 and 98: Good Practice Human Rights artistic
Page 99 and 100: Good Practice Labour Standards a co
Page 101 and 102: Good Practice Labour Standards Bosc
Page 103 and 104: Good Practice Labour Standards Seve
Page 105 and 106: Good Practice Labour Standards Abov
Page 107 and 108: Good Practice Labour Standards ecut
Page 109 and 110: Environment 110 112 114 118 120 122
Page 111 and 112: Good Practice Environment Audi uses
Page 113 and 114: Good Practice Environment therefore
Page 115 and 116:
Good Practice Environment time, we
Page 117 and 118:
Good Practice Environment world in
Page 119 and 120:
Good Practice Environment functions
Page 121 and 122:
Good Practice Environment Furthermo
Page 123 and 124:
Good Practice Environment “A cap
Page 125 and 126:
Good Practice Environment Water2lif
Page 127 and 128:
Good Practice Environment The geare
Page 129 and 130:
Good Practice Environment ing effec
Page 131 and 132:
Good Practice Anti-Corruption messa
Page 133 and 134:
Good Practice Anti-Corruption A GLO
Page 135 and 136:
CSR Management 136 140 142 144 148
Page 137 and 138:
Good Practice CSR Management Reward
Page 139 and 140:
Good Practice CSR Management Jan Sv
Page 141 and 142:
Good Practice CSR Management Finall
Page 143 and 144:
Good Practice CSR Management signed
Page 145 and 146:
Good Practice CSR Management The MA
Page 147 and 148:
Good Practice CSR Management 2000 l
Page 149 and 150:
Good Practice CSR Management Concep
Page 151 and 152:
Good Practice CSR Management of fou
Page 153 and 154:
Good Practice Development Sustainab
Page 155 and 156:
Good Practice Development Coop: Off
Page 157 and 158:
Good Practice Development India acc
Page 159 and 160:
Good Practice Development Above: Se
Page 161 and 162:
Good Practice Development In this s
Page 163 and 164:
Good Practice Development Finger pr
Page 165 and 166:
Good Practice Development Mobile te
Page 167 and 168:
Good Practice Development priate an
Page 169 and 170:
Good Practice Financial Markets ris
Page 171 and 172:
Good Practice Financial Markets Imp
Page 173 and 174:
Good Practice Financial Markets We
Page 175 and 176:
Agenda Integrated Reporting Global
Page 177 and 178:
Agenda Integrated Reporting /Keynot
Page 179 and 180:
Agenda Integrated ISO 26000 Reporti
Page 181 and 182:
Agenda Integrated Reporting thereby
Page 183 and 184:
Page 185 and 186:
Page 187 and 188:
Page 189 and 190:
Page 191 and 192:
Page 193 and 194:
GC International Yearbook Imprint A
Page 195 and 196:
Previous Editions: This publication
show all

Global Compact International Yearbook Ausgabe 2013

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?