Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility

Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility Principles for Global Corporate Responsibility

Origin and Purpose . The purpose of the Principles for Global Corporate Responsibility is to promote positive corporate social responsibility consistent with the responsibility to sustain the human community and all creation. The Principles were drawn up in 1995 and revised in 1998 by collaborating agencies of certain faith communities in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. They are the Taskforce on the Churches and Corporate Responsibility (TCCR) in Canada, the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR) in the UK, and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) in the US.

Critical Content. The Principles are offered as an ethical standard for global corporate social responsibility. They arise from the faiths of the participant groups, communities, denominations and traditions. At the foundation of the Principles is the belief that the community rather than the company is the starting point of economic life. For the community to be sustainable, all members (stakeholders) need to be recognized, i.e. consumers, employees, shareholders, the community at large and corporations.

The Principles are grouped into two "sections" -- "The Wider Community" and "The Corporate Business Community" -- as indicated below.

The Wider Community

Section 1.1 - Ecosystems. High standards to minimize environmental damage and health impacts. The 'precautionary principle' is overriding: Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation. Companies should take responsibility for the environmental impact of its products and services throughout the life cycle of these products and services.

Section 1.2 - National Communities. The company values being a citizenship in all its locations and full compliance with all internationally recognized standards. It also contributes in a responsible and transparent way to each society's efforts to promote full human development for all its members and does not use the mobility of capital and the immobility of labor as a tool against workers.

Section 1.3 - Local Communities. The company strives to contribute to the long-term environmental, social, cultural, and economic sustainability of the local communities in which it operates.

Section 1.4 - Indigenous Communities. The company is committed to respecting fully the rights of indigenous peoples as they are recognized by the appropriate jurisdictions and laws.

Section 2.1 - The Employed - Conditions. The company ensures that each employee is treated with respect and dignity. This includes genuine respect for employees' right to freedom of association, labor organization, free collective bargaining, non-discrimination in employment and a safe and healthy working environment provided for all employees.

Sub-section 2.2a - Women in the Workforce. The company values women as a vital group of employees who have a significant contribution to make to the work of all companies and ensures that there is equal remuneration for work of equal value.

Sub-section 2.2b - Minority Groups. The company does not discriminate on grounds of race, ethnicity, or culture.

Sub-section 2.2c - Persons with Disabilities. The company ensures that persons with disabilities who apply for jobs with the company receive fair treatment and are considered solely on their ability to do the job with or without workplace modifications.

Sub-section 2.2d - Child Labor. Neither the company nor its contractors exploit children as workers.

Sub-section 2.2e - Forced Labor. The company does not use any forced labor, whether in the forms of prison labor, indentured labor, bonded labor, slave labor or any other non-voluntary labor.

Section 2.3 - Suppliers. The company accepts responsibility for all those whom it employs either directly or indirectly through contract suppliers, sub-contractors, vendors or suppliers.

Section 2.4 - Financial Integrity. The company insists on honesty and integrity in all aspects of its business, wherever business is conducted. It does not offer, pay, solicit or accept bribes in any form.

Section 2.5 - Ethical Integrity. The company recognizes that its directors and employees have a central role in upholding the company's ethical standards and codes of conduct.

Section 2.6 - The Shareholders. The company's corporate governance policies balance the interests of managers, employees, shareholders, and other interested and affected parties.

Section 2.7 - Joint Ventures / Partnerships / Subsidiaries. When entering into and throughout the duration of joint ventures and partnerships, the company takes into account the ethical implications as well as the financial implications of those relationships.

Section 2.8 - Customers & Consumers. The company adheres to international standards and protocols relevant to its products and services and is committed to marketing practices which protect consumers and which ensures the safety of all products. It is fully committed to fair trading practices.

Implementation. The Principles for Global Corporate Responsibility are aspirational in the sense that they urge adoption by managers and corporations, but do not specify an assessment or follow-up process. However, the Taskforce has correlated a set of critiera and benchmarks with the Principles; these can be used to assess a company's conformity to these aspirations.