You may have heard that ECI Telecom has been accepted as a participant in the prestigious United Nations (UN) Global Compact initiative. All of us at ECI are very excited about this achievement, particularly since sustainability and responsible business practices are at the heart of the Company’s business approach and long-term strategy.
While ECI has had a social responsibility program in place for years, membership in the UN Global Compact provides us with a universally accepted framework for measuring our social responsibility activities. The UN Global Compact focuses on ten core principles in the areas of human rights, fair labor practice, environmental responsibility and leading the fight against corruption.
These principles are:
1. Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
2. Make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
3. Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
4. The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor;
5. The effective abolition of child labor; and
6. The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
7. Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
8. Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
9. Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
10. Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
Now, it’s one thing to want to be a member of an esteemed UN initiative promoting these important principles. It’s quite another to agree to the stringent requirements set forth by the UN Global Compact.
Becoming a member of the UN Global Compact commits ECI to continue our efforts in this area. As part of our partnership, we will be submitting to the UN Global Compact an annual report outlining our progress in each of these areas. And at the end of the year, our “score” is on display for the entire world – literally – to see.
Many companies would shy away from becoming a member of the UN Global Compact, because it, in essence, makes the company accountable for its social responsibility program. We welcome such scrutiny. Whereas in the past, any social responsibility initiative whatsoever was seen as a positive thing, now that’s not enough. We are demanding of ourselves to achieve greater and greater results each year.
Here at ECI, we are completely comfortable with this system because we believe in measuring our achievements and working hard in those areas where we may need to improve. Membership in the UN Global Compact provides us with a 100% measurable social responsibility program that will be on public display. And that’s exactly how we want it to be.
I look forward to keeping you updated on our progress. In the meantime, we welcome you to view ECI’s Global Compact participant information
here.