Guidelines for social responsibility

At one time, it used to be all about making profits. Nowadays, however, more and more companies are realising they are also expected to perform well in non-financial areas such as ethics and governance, human rights, workplace issues, environmental policies and community development. In other words, businesses are becoming more aware of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

CSR is basically about how an organisation manages its operations in a sustainable manner while taking into account economic, social and environmental factors as well as the interests of its stakeholders such as the community, employees, customers, shareholders and future generations.

While there is often a perception that CSR is only relevant to the private sector, and big business at that, social responsibility is applicable to organisations of all types.

This is, in fact, the position put forward in ISO 26000, an international standard on social responsibility launched on November 1, 2010 by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).

This relatively new standard provides guidance on social responsibility for organisations whether private or public, large or small.The standard captures international best practice on social responsibility – what it means, what issues an organisation needs to address in order to operate in a socially responsible manner, and what is best practice in implementing social responsibility. In fact, the standard treats with some of the key principles and core subjects that underlie social responsibility.

Key principles include accountability, transparency, ethical behaviour, respect for stakeholders, respect for the rule of law, respect for international norms of behaviour, and respect for human rights. Core issues include organisational governance, human rights, labour practices, the environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, and community involvement and development. ISO 26000 can therefore be a valuable guide to organisations in the practical “operationalising” of social responsibility.

The standard, though, consists of voluntary guidelines — not requirements. It is therefore not for use for certification purposes.

However, it has been argued that conformity with ISO 26000 can still be accomplished indirectly by looking at each core subject that the standard deals with and certifying these areas against established and recognised quality standards or marks.

For example, the environment can be certified to ISO 14001(Environmental Management), fair operating practices to ISO 9001 (Quality Management), and human rights and labour practices to SA8000 (Social Accountability).

ISO 26000, Guidelines for Social Responsibility, came about through extensive co-operation and consensus.

In developing the standard, close to 100 countries from both the developed and developing world and over 40 public and private sector organisations were involved in the ISO Working Group on Social Responsibility. Six main stakeholder groups were represented: industry; government; labour; consumers; nongovernmental organisations (NGOs); and service, support, research and others (SSRO). The membership of this Working Group eventually became the largest and most broadly based in terms of stakeholder representation of any single group formed to develop an ISO standard.

Though reaching final consensus was a long and at times difficult process, a comprehensive document was produced intended for those new to the field of social responsibility as well as those who are more seasoned practitioners.

The Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) plans to officially launch the local adoption of ISO 26000 on October 20, 2011.

Are we prepared? Are our local companies and organisations ready to take on board and live up to the noble guidance and expectations of the standard? Are we all committed to continuing to be agents of change, making a positive difference in Trinidad and Tobago?

I would like to think so.

(Wade Inglesbirth is a member of the CSR Committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce.)