A following the recent debate in the Latin American Forum of social responsibility on companies American and DJI ( Down Jones Index) Hugo Vergara Director of BSD (Business. Sustainability. Development Consulting Chile-Ecuador ) , posted a comment that seemed important to go public and hear the views of supporters of the Blog.
I would copy the concern Hugo:
"It was very interesting to see how my last comment delivered on the network has caused some confusion among some organizations and other side agreement on the substantive discussion of the issues raised. I think that as the drivers of these issues in the region must be open to criticism and analysis and of course to dissent when not agree, is a basic rule of any discussion. I am anxious to continue the debate started a few weeks ago on the regional agenda and model or vision that we should adopt in the region. First, and to be specific, there are some issues that I believe are central to this agenda and list them:
A. - Corporate governance and transparency
We still the region is a deficit in this area in domestic companies are still family-run and where good governance and transparency have gaps on such commitments to be taken in the OECD to this regard.
The region has been going on conflicts of interest, price collusion in some sectors that border mergers in monopolies that will affect consumers, lack of timely information to stakeholders for decision-making, in short, a stretch that between the same companies is evident and yet the market does not recognize as a value. Today, companies operating in the region with very high standards and strict guidelines for ethical conduct but who face other groups where these issues are dead letters.
B. - Environment
is upon us in a crucial debate in the region at the rate of water and its importance for human consumption versus production and development needs. This is a scarce resource and there will be more scarce in the coming years and the largest reserves are in the region. Industries that require energy for their operations and even large hydropower projects that are not sustainable and use these resources to those needs.
In terms of innovation and technology for sustainability, investment in the region continues be minimal and most of it is coming from the state and not the companies. Discussions on energy matrix are linked to these issues, tax incentives needed for investment in renewable energy is a serious deficit in our countries.
climate change impacts in areas of the Amazon and the potential environmental impacts of mining projects in the area, what are the criteria for such projects in areas of high ecological impact.
Finally, we have an immediate challenge and requires larger efforts in this area. Examples such as telephone and unity on climate change should be a trend and not an exception.
We can not forget what happened to BP, the question is which is the risk in our region, who knows what is happening in this area.
C. - Social inequity and poor distribution of income
We have one of the greatest inequities in the world, even our development models fail to generate more equity and with them greater distribution of wealth. The data suggest that the richest 10% has increased their wealth by at least 3 times to 10% poorer. It requires a debate from the perspective of CSR that addresses this issue from the perspective of public-private cooperation, a scheme that allows to be more efficient in allocating resources and that focuses on the most important elements, quality of education access to health, better infrastructure, among a few.
Even the vision of philanthropy in many companies still dressed in CSR, and that has not changed as quickly as we thought.
D. - Labour rights and human rights
is heard discussing the ethical wage, but still not done too much about it. Debate is still on more flexible working but are still seeing this is but more job security, security policies and occupational health in some areas are simply a dead letter, the construction sector, fisheries, mining, etc. continue to have deficits in this area. Blacklists in some countries of trade union leaders in some countries of Central America on respect for freedom of association and collective bargaining is unacceptable, the death of trade unionist in the region where human rights violations, in short, elements that should lead to an open and frank discussion.
A family living on USD $ 200 salary, can not have any chance to escape their poverty, we must make greater efforts in this. The corporate profits in 2010 were impressive in some countries, however this did not translate into better wages or conditions for workers and employees. Companies that because of the crisis was fired thousands of workers and their earnings results were higher than previous years.
Many of these issues are part of the CSR agenda and the truth is that many of these issues should be part of the regional agenda. Undoubtedly require greater control and to adjust certain elements of regulation, but beyond that we need the business and the market reacts more positively to these incentives, this does not sleep in the arms of corporate reputation transformation into the DNA of the modus operandi of the three sectors, the only way in which I can walk to most fair and competitive markets. "
Recabal Hugo Vergara BSD Consulting Director
Chile, Ecuador
Business.Sustainability.Development
Http:// twitter.com / HugoAVR
http://twitter.com/BSDConsultingCL
http:// www.facebook.com / pages / BSD-Consulting-Chile
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