The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) and ECOP ZAMBASULTA Chapter, in partnership with the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), hosted the Mindanao-wide Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the ASEAN Economic Integration (AEC) on November 26-27, 2019 at Orchid Garden Hotel, Zamboanga City. This activity was done with the support of the Danish Trade Unions Development Agency (DTDA).
The two-day conference enhanced the capability of companies and unions to conduct campaigns at the national level to promote “principles-based” and “partnership-based” CSR strategy as a means to achieve decent working conditions, productivity, and fair competitiveness in the on-going ASEAN economic integration.
Forty (40) participants representing employers and workers organizations from Cagayan De Oro, Davao and Zamboanga made valuable contributions to the overall success of the conference.
The conference featured two (2) plenary discussions, one (1) panel discussion with speakers from International Labor Organization, Federation of Free Workers, Employers Confederation of the Philippines – ZAMBASULTA Chapter and Danish Trade Union Development Agency, launching of the project’s publication and lastly, a group workshop.
Ms. Ruby Banez, the National Project Coordinator from the International Labor Organization, opened the conference.
The 1st plenary session entitled “Responsible Business Practices As A Principles-Based, Inclusive, and Business Sustainable CSR Strategy”, explored how responsible business behavior responds to the need to ensure that big companies make sure that their supply chains are clean.
The 2nd plenary discussion entitled “Rights-Based and Business Sustainable CSR Approaches: Guiding Instruments, Good Practices, Concerns, and Recommendations”, enumerates the different CSR international CSR principles such as the UN Global Compact and MNE Declaration as well as on Business and Human Rights.
The first day was capped by a panel discussion entitled “Principles-Based, Inclusive, and Business- Sustainable CSR as a Response to the Challenges of the ASEAN Economic Integration”, which provided insights on how CSR can be effectively promoted and integrated from the perspective of an employer, worker and an international development organization.
The last day of the conference was a group workshop by the employer and workers representatives to come up with responses to the challenges in promoting the practice of a principles-based, inclusive, and sustainable CSR in the ASEAN.
Another roll-out for Visayas-wide and Luzon-wide Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the ASEAN Economic Integration will be organized next year by the CSR project team.
To know more about ECOP’s engaged in corporate social responsibility, you may contact Ms. Shiela Marie Ramos, ECOP Project Specialist, through [email protected].
