Socially Responsible

How developed is the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Shanghai? There was good progress in the promotion of CSR practices in China in 2007. New legislation designed to protect workers' rights was passed, and the country's first law was drafted on the "circular economy," China's term for "environmental sustainability." Leading international organizations were also approved to establish representative offices. In Shanghai, the government has taken a proactive approach in exploring its role in advancing CSR in China. What sort of projects do you get involved with? One of our most important initiatives is the "Make a Difference Corporate Volunteer Program," which connects companies with the local community by providing them with opportunities to engage in volunteer activities. Other programs aim to provide learning opportunities for migrant children, improve healthcare for women and infants in China's remote regions, introduce comprehensive CSR strategies to our member companies, engage NGOs, media and government agencies, as well as address other aspects of CSR through workshops, seminars and our annual CSR Conference and Awards. What are the largest challenges to promoting CSR practices? Continuing to deepen the understanding of the true concept of CSR among officials, managers and the public at large is a challenge. Identifying independent, transparent non-profit organizations to work with is also an ongoing challenge. CSR is a growing concept in China but also in the West as well. What kind of motivation do you think companies require to embrace CSR? Often companies approach CSR as a public relations initiative, but it can have a much broader impact across business functions if embraced as a core component. In HR, for example, engaging in CSR develops employee loyalty, creates corporate culture and provides new communication channels between the company and its stakeholders.

Oliver Yang

DETAILS
What: AmCham CSR Program
Web: www.amcham-shanghai.org
Email: csr@amcham-shanghai.org