Recommended reading
Corporate social responsibility in China’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector
Recommendations for improving CSR in Chinese ICT sector
Authors:
Publisher:
Business for Social Responsibility , 2007
The report focuses on the development of strategy for improving labour and environmental conditions in China’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector with a particular focus on Shenzhen’s ICT sector. The report argues that companies within ICT sector are increasingly requiring that their suppliers, many of whom are located in China, improve social and environmental standards and the Chinese ICT sector must therefore improve working conditions and environmental standards in order meet CSR expectations and maintain overall competitiveness.
This report includes recommendations for each group of stakeholders that plays an essential role in improving the overall social and environmental conditions in Shenzhen’s ICT sector.
Key findings and recommendations from the report include:
- some suppliers realise that they can reap tangible benefits from good social and environmental practices, but many are not yet convinced of the business case for CSR
- suppliers should explore opportunities to improve workers’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities so that efforts to improve working conditions can be effectively implemented
- customers play an important role in supporting suppliers’ abilities to improve CSR practices
- governments, including the Shenzhen government, are increasingly supporting private sector CSR practices, which often results in enhanced private sector compliance with national labour and environmental laws. However, achieving sustainable labour and environmental practices in global supply chains requires an enabling environment that is supported by the government
- local NGOs play an essential on-the-ground watchdog role and are also in a unique position to provide credible worker education for migrant workers. NGOs should increase their influence by identifying opportunities to collaborate with the private sector and ensuring that reports are accurate and balanced
- the Shenzhen Electronic Industries Association plays an important conduit role with its membership of small- and medium-sized enterprises in the ICT sector. The Association can help its membership meet customers’ CSR expectations and increase export opportunities by educating its membership on international CSR expectations and practices
