The EZA project cooperation of ‘Ethics in enterprises’ in 2008
EZA has introduced In the framework of the European Social Dialogue Program among other seminar topics for 2008 also ‘Ethics in enterprises’. This topic is a very important subject also from the point of view of the European social policy. In fact ethical aspects should be presented in any EZA seminar but especially this topic deserves a specific attention. There is also a liaison with the corporate social responsibility (CSR). The CSR concept includes economic, social and ecological aspects of enterprises.
Business ethics generally can be understood as a relation between ethics and economics. Various levels could be discussed from an individual or local one up to the global level. This field should not only describe or criticize but it should indicate visions and find new trajectories and solutions based on a consensus and social dialogue. Personal courage and creation of a corresponding social network are necessary.
The society has to demand from the enterprises and institutions to be responsible, open, and transparent, to conserve integrity, confidence, and sensibility for the needs of the society.
Following seminars – where business ethics or CSR are considered from many approaches -have been realised:
Rumania (Sinaia): CSR . Impact upon trade unions and companies in Rumania (May 2008) – stressing possible application of CSR in collective bargaining negotiations and in other activities of employee representatives on the corporate level;
Italy (Rome): Rural work, ethics of solidarity and social dialogue in the EU of the third millennium (May 2008) – new ethical decisions are needed in rural areas emphasizing CSR of rural enterprises for sustainable development;
Austria (Leibnitz): CSR (20th Conference on trade union cooperation in Europe – KGZE, September 2008) – it would like to find new ways to combine topics of decent work, fair trade and CSR towards a social ecologic market economy;
Italy (Trentino): Ethics in companies: value for the company, resources for society (October 2008) – this seminar should be focussed on the importance of ethics and values in corporations; social and ethical standards should be respected in the contemporary Europe; management decisions should take into consideration ethical principles in the arena of stakeholders and shareholders;
Lithuania (Vilnius): Development of life-long learning by strengthening CSR of enterprises (postponed for October 2008) – the CSR concept should be introduced as an instrument of life-long learning and as a tool to improve the situation of employees; special focus will be given to the new EU member states.
In comparison with previous periods a new methodology is being introduced in this year:
Originally member organizations realized their seminars independently from other seminars in other countries. The new system consists in making links (liaisons) between them. We would like to inform about individual seminars also participants of other seminars to the same main topic. Therefore the final report will be largely presented in other seminars in other countries.
We would like to have more personal co-operation between the organisers of seminars in order to prepare further continuing projects for the future and to find new topics.
The method „voir – juger – agir“ should be completely realised. Therefore the final report should be realised in practice. The results have to be more intensively promoted in the whole society.
The role of media is very important. Our discussion and our issues should be considered as an alternative and counterbalance to the media. The results have been published.