The Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, H E Yousef bin Mohammed Al Othman Fakhro, presenting a Social Responsibility Award to an official of Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd, as Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani Al Thani, the Vice
Doha: Eleven companies operating in Qatar are signatories to the UN Global Compact, an international initiative to promote social responsibility.
The Social Responsibility Awards, an initiative of Dar Al Sharq Group, helps creating a culture of social responsibility in the country. “Eleven companies operating in Qatar have already signed the Global Compact,” said David Grayson, Professor of Corporate Social Responsibility at Cranfield School of Management, adding that more Qatari businesses should follow them to create a culture of social responsibility in the country.
The UN Global Compact is a principle-based framework for businesses, stating ten principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption. Under the Global Compact, companies are brought together with UN agencies, labor groups, and civil society.
“One of the starting point is for more Qatari business to become signatories for United Nations Global Compact which comprises ten simple principles on how you run a responsible busies,” David Grayson told The Peninsula on the sidelines of 6th Social Responsibility Awards (SRA) ceremony.
He said that local companies can learn from each other on how to work together to find common solution about the challenges arise under social responsibility in a bid to create a culture of social responsibility in the country. The ceremony was organised by Dar Al Sharq in cooperation with Social and Support Contribution Fund under a theme ‘Role of Social Responsibility in Supporting 2022 FIFA World Cup’. A number of companies from different sectors received awards. Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd received the award for best company in energy sector.
“There are growing expectations in all over the world from businesses so the companies should take more responsibility for social, environmental and economic impacts,” said Grayson.
He said that social responsibility is not just about more reducing risks which is an important part but it will help also in creating new business opportunities, sustainable services and products. “I think it is hugely important to create culture of social responsibility in any society specially the business which is a fundamental part of the society,” said Grayson.
He added: “Now it is important for the businesses to take responsibility for the negative impacts like pollution, excessive use of water among may more.” He said that the businesses have bigger role to play and look their interests in long term.
