Bali, Indonesia, 5 August – Mr. Thomas Thomas, CEO of the ASEAN CSR Network (ACN), presented the ‘ASEAN CSR Vision 2020’ initiative at the ASEAN Trade Union Council (ASETUC) general assembly.   ASEAN CSR Vision 2020 is an effort to mainstream responsible business conduct in the region.  In support of ASEAN’s goal of sustainable, equitable and inclusive socio-economic development, the initiative seeks to raise awareness, build capacity and enable collective action on issues related to Corporate Social Responsibility.

 ASEAN CSR Vision 2020 aims to ensure that CSR practice in ASEAN meets internationally accepted frameworks and norms, such as those prescribed in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Core Conventions to promote the rights of workers, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogues.  These objectives are in line with modern CSR frameworks such as the ISO 26000 guidance on corporate social responsibility and the ten principles of the United Nations Global Compact.

 Under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint, CSR is a key element for the promotion and protection of social justice and human rights, including the rights of workers. The Blueprint has a strategic objective to ensure that CSR is incorporated in the corporate agenda.

Earlier, delivering the keynote speech to the assembly, was H.E. Alicia Dela Rosa Bala, the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community who gave a prognosis of an ASEAN Community as the integration of ASEAN approaches in 2015.  In her address, the Deputy Secretary-General focused on the prospects of decent work.

Mr. Saw Naing, the Deputy Director General of the Department of Labour from Myanmar provided a review on the implementation of ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Meeting Workplan.  Other speakers who addressed the assembly included Mr. Christopher Ng, the Regional Secretary of the Union Network International Asia- Pacific (UNI-Apro) and Mr Albert Yuson, the Secretary-General of the Building and Wood Worker’s International (BWI).

ASCETUC was formed by the ASEAN affiliates of the UNI-Apro, BWI and the Public Services International (PSI), the global trade union federation.  Taking part in the dialogue were also chiefs of employers’ federations, representatives of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Asian Development Bank and non-governmental organisations.

If you need more information on the ASEAN CSR Network, please contact info@asean-csr-network.org.