Bastun - Baltic Sea Trade Union Network

 
Latvia: Memorandum on Corporate Social Responsibility Signed by 22 Organisations
On February 10th, the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia together with 22 organisations representing the public, private and non-governmental sectors signed a memorandum on the principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR).

The memorandum clarifies the definition and principles of social responsibility, outlines those areas most influenced by business, and outlines the challenges ahead in the field of CSR in Latvian society. These challenges include increasing the number of businesses whose good practice is reported in national and international CSR indexes in order to confirm business sustainability, as well as giving recommendations to the public sector of how to recognise socially responsible businesses while evaluating opportunities for cooperation.

Elīna Egle, General Director of the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia stressed that the cooperation partners have confirmed that CSR is an essential component of business activity and is in the interest of society. It is the rise of the shadow economy that has motivated the discussion of CSR and the desire to clearly show examples of good practice. It is hoped that the various spheres of the economy will be more insistent in their defence of the interests of honest players in the economy. She also pointed out that “the memorandum is also an open confirmation of the public administration to objectively evaluate all forms of collaboration with the private sector.”

The Chairperson of LBAS, Pēteris Krīgers, stated: “the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia is interested in CSR as another instrument which can help achieve extra guarantees to employees in the areas of legal working relationships and work security without hindering the successful development of business activity. We have for a long time, understood that a stable and constructive relationship between employers and employees, normal social dialogue between employers and trade unions, and collective agreements within business enterprises form the correct path to a renewal of the country’s economy and the formation of a civil society in Latvia.”

LDDK and LBAS give consultations on questions of labour law and labour protection in the five largest Latvian cities in order to improve the quality of legal relations and to properly order labour relations in the corresponding legal acts of the Republic of Latvia. The director of the Association of Community Relation Companies, Inga Latkovska, noted that the development and the signature of the memorandum represents a significant turning point in the understanding of CSR not only in the world of business, but also in the state administration. “Just a few years ago society still perceived CSR to be something exclusive and only characteristic of large international business enterprises. Today, especially in these stressful economic conditions, CSR is an everyday necessity – these are relationships with business partners and employees, and the attitude to nature and the state. And also, what is more – CSR is not an obstacle, rather a stimulus to development and sustainability.” The memorandum is open to institutions of public administration, local municipalities, community organisations, as well as associations organised along branch, professional or regional lines: all are welcome to accept the memorandum.

The following organisations signed the memorandum: The Employers’ Confederation of Latvia, the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia, the Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee, the Ministry of the Economy, the State Labour Inspectorate, the Ministry of the Environment, The Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government, The Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau, The Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, the Worldwide Fund for Nature, Transparency International Latvia “Delna”, the Latvian Association for Quality, the Latvian Association of Personnel Management, the Latvian Advertising Association, the Association of Community Relation Companies, the Latvian Press Publishers Association, the Latvian Association of Waste Management Companies, the Latvian Association of Energy Construction, the Latvian association of Gaming Business, the Latvian Rectors’ Council, the Latvian Association of Professional Cleaning and Maintenance, and the Society of Partners in Ideas.