CSR - Current - ASEM-CSR Conference took place in Potsdam from 15 until 17 March 2009

09.03.2009

ASEM-CSR Conference took place in Potsdam from 15 until 17 March 2009

By organising the 1^st ASEM Labour and Employment Ministers Conference in Potsdam in 2006, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs had already extended the ASEM process to also include the aspect of employment and social policy. At the follow-up Conference held in Indonesia in October 2008, the cooperation projects concerning the exchange of experience, expert knowledge and "best practice" were agreed. In this context, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs took on responsibility for the project "Cooperation in the Field of Corporate Social Responsibility". A first and important step to accomplish this task was taken by organising the "High-Level ASEM-CSR Conference" entitled "Shaping CSR ¿ Opportunities for the Well-Being of the ASEM Workforce" in Potsdam from 15 to 17 March 2009, which has yielded very positive results.

The Conference was opened by the Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Olaf Scholz together with EU Commissioner Vladimir Spidla and the former ASEM host, the Indonesian Labour Minister Erman Suparno. In the course of the Conference it became clear that Corporate Social Responsibility, particularly in the context of the current financial and economic crisis, is gaining increasing importance. Because as a supplement to government's policy measures, business activities, above all those of multinational enterprises, can  make a central contribution toward sustainable economic growth, social well-being, thus strengthening the social dimension of globalisation.

In addition to ministers, state secretaries and government representatives from a total of 37 Asian and European countries, the EU Commission and the ASEAN Secretariat, the Conference was also attended in person by all other significant stakeholders in the CSR process: international organisations, regional and international employee and employer representatives, representatives from the management and staff of renowned companies, non-governmental organisations and representatives from civil society. Thus, the different aspects of CSR were able to be ideally highlighted.

The Conference was aimed at three important objectives: Taking stock of the role of CSR in the ASEM area, making clear the growing importance of synergies between government, enterprises, and civil society for shaping the social dimension of globalisation, and drafting Chair's Conclusions in preparation of the 2010 ASEM Labour and Employment Ministers Meeting.

In the panel discussions and special working groups, the following aspects were given particular attention: the assessment of current CSR developments against the background of the financial and economic crisis, CSR from the perspective of social partners and governments, the significance of the most important international instruments for the implementation of CSR (OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the United Nation's Global Compact), the responsibility for sustainability and social responsibility in the supply chain and finally the question whether the sometimes voiced fear that CSR requirements and standards, above all those to be met by goods producing enterprises, could be abused for protectionist purposes, is justified.

The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs will take advantage of this successful start to further deepen the ASEM-CSR process at expert level. The results of the Conference will serve as input for the next ASEM Labour and Employment Ministers Conference 2010.

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