BSCI Project: High Levels of Efficiency Needed for Sustainable Corporate Development

<div align="justify"><i>On </i><i>May 26, 2008</i><i> in </i><i>Ho Chi Minh City</i><i>, a seminar was held entitled &ldquoLooking to the Future: Addressing the Goals of Business Social Compliance&rdquo. Taking part were Mr Doan Duy Khuong, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Mr Sharan KC, Director of the Australian agency People for Health, Education and Development Abroad (APHEDA), Mr Hanau Ohvo, Director of Finland&rsquos Trade Union Solidarity Centre (SASK) and consultants and representatives from a number of leading enterprises.</i></div> <div align="justify"><em></em></div> <div align="justify">The BSCI project was run for producers and suppliers of retail products for the Finnish market from May 15, 2006 to April 30, 2008 in Binh Duong, Binh Dinh and Ben Tre provinces and Ho Chi Minh City. VCCI-HCM, the HCM City Trade Union, the HCM City Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and APHEDA jointly carried out the SASK-funded project. </div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">The projects aim is for ed enterprises to comply with best practice principles to enhance corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the business social compliance initiative (BSCI). In the long run the project will help to improve the working environment for employees, working relationships, productivity, business performance and the social value of products.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">As many as 23 factories from 19 enterprises engaged in garments, textiles, wooden furniture, seafood processing, handicrafts, jewellery, household appliances, leather and footwear took part in the programme. Within the projects framework, many events were held by the enterprises taking part on topics such as work satisfaction, production levels, and training in negotiation ss, hygiene and safety, action planning and current legislation for workers and trade unionists. 18 enterprises took part in the programme throughout its first phase. The project appraised an enterprise based on three issues: management capabilities, administrative procedures, working hours, salaries, health and safety, working conditions and environment. After the appraisal, only one enterprise was reported as being satisfactory, seven needed improving and 10 remained weak. During the second phase, 15 factories took part with three factories receiving good reprts and only four being classed as weak. </div> <div align="justify">According to Mr Cao Trong Chinh, a BSCI consultant from APAVE, although the appraisal results were not perfect, most enterprises had made an effort to improve and conditions were better after atting the programme. By joining the project, some enterprises had managed to organise a number of training courses on fire prevention and accident avoidance for labourers (?) established and implemented the 5S programme and laid out clearer BSCI and salary policies as well as policies on occupational health. Several of the participants fed back on their achievements after taking part in the project.</div> <div align="justify"> </div> <div align="justify">Speaking at the seminar, Mr Doan Duy Khuong said: The BSCI Project was practical and effective for the sustainable development of Vietnam&rsquos business community. The correct understanding and full implementation of standards of corporate social responsibility had helped to achieve an array of benefits for enterprises, workers, the environment and society. As expected, the project will be rolled out across the country. </div> <div align="justify"><b>S.P</b></div>