 |
 Home Overseas Projects Vietnam Project News
Project Update - Corporate Social Responsibility, May-November 2006
26 February 2007
Seven months into the Corporate Social Responsibility project, an initial evaluation was undertaken to measure its progress.
As of November 2006, the following activities have been undertaken and results achieved:
- The formation of a Steering Committee, comprising the Federation of Labour (FOL - Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI - Ho Chi Minh City), Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISA - Ho Chi Minh City), and APHEDA. In addition to this a Reference Group comprised of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), the ILO, Action Aid and the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) has been set up to advise the Steering Committee and APHEDA on the CSR project.
- An orientation workshop attended by 55 people representing 27 companies and 5 reporters was organized on 19 June 2006.
- 19 companies (with 22 factories) have signed an agreement to take part in the project.
- Each participating company has set up an Enterprise Project Implementation Committee (EPIC) comprising management and union representatives to facilitate the implementation of activities and liaise/report to the Steering Committee.
- Hardcopy and CD versions of the BSCI code of conduct requirements have been supplied to all participating companies.
- Members of the Steering Committee were given capacity building training for project management, monitoring, supervision and evaluation.
- Three local CSR survey companies have been selected to undertake the survey of the participating companies. These surveys seek information on the working relationship between workers and direct supervisors; workers' personal plans and aspirations, factors affecting workers' decision to remain working with the company, and other related issues. In addition, the survey results will provide information on which future surveys and monitoring can be based. As of November 2006, 13 surveys have been completed.
The make-up of the enterprises selected to take part are:
- 8 garment and textile factories
- 5 furniture factories
- 2 consumer goods - seafood processing plants
- 2 footwear companies
- 2 housing fixtures companies
- 2 handicraft companies, and
- 1 precious stone company.
At the start of the project, it was found that only one company did not have a trade union representing its workers (which is contrary to Vietnam's Labour Law). Approximately 70% of participating workers are trade union members. Most of the trade union members need more information on the Vietnam Labour Law provisions. The capacity of unions to organise around these issues needs to be enhanced. APHEDA's project is addressing each of these issues through its continual development and improvement of the curriculum throughout the course.
One problem that has arisen with the participating companies is their concern that they would have to comply with many different CSR models as they export to many countries. The project has provided information to the companies that by meeting the BSCI standards, they will improve their export potential to Europe and prove to the rest of the global export market that their products are produced under appropriate social and environmental standards. By following the principles of the BSCI, and working with local trade unions, these enterprises will foster good relations between workers, employers and the government. It will promote better conditions for workers, which will improve productivity and reduce occupational health risks.
|
