The Index of Corporate Social Responsibility Developed in Belarus

A Business Social Responsibility Index has been developed in Belarus, with the first company assessment results presented on November 28 in Minsk during public hearings of socially responsible companies, as reported by a BELTA correspondent.

The implementation of a corporate social responsibility index was announced in November 2018 at the first public hearings. The initiative was launched by the "Dobra" Social Fund.

"We were set a complex task. Initially, we developed one version. After testing, it turned out that the questions were complicated, comprehensive, and could not be applied to all businesses. We had to develop a new version almost from scratch. By summer, the tool was practically ready. It was tested for some time. Then a website was created where the survey was conducted and information on the results was recorded. Closer to November, we decided it would be logical to present the tool at the second hearings," explained Maxim Podberezkin, lead specialist on corporate sustainability issues at the fund.

The index is a digital indicator designed for assessing and self-assessing a company's activities in the field of sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. Companies are evaluated based on four groups of criteria: labour relations and human rights, fair business practices, consumers and community involvement, and the environment. A total of 134 indicators are presented. Based on the survey results, each company is assigned a social sustainability and responsibility index, a figure ranging from 0 to 12.

"Currently, 23 companies have undergone the assessment, and the information is available on the 'Indeks dobra' website," specified Maxim Podberezkin. "These are preliminary indices; subsequently, the assessments will be verified by the 'Dobra' Fund and public representatives. If discrepancies are noted, the index may be revised."

"We have researched companies that openly share information about their activities," added Maxim Podberezkin. "There are not many such companies; businesses prefer not to talk about their corporate sustainability and responsibility practices. This is one of the problems the index is intended to solve. If we do not discuss these matters, the information cannot be used by other organisations to improve. Everyone looks up to the leaders."

The hearings were organised by the local social fund "Dobra" in partnership with OJSC "ASB Belarusbank". The fund was registered in 2017, and one of its main goals is to attract and unite financial, intellectual, and organisational resources, as well as other opportunities from Belarusian and foreign companies, to increase social investments, innovations, and the development of social entrepreneurship in the country. The fund is the initiator of the agreement of socially responsible companies and the "goodness index", which shows the level of social responsibility of firms. The fund represents the local office of the UN Global Compact network - the world's largest initiative in the field of corporate sustainability.-0-

News of Belarus (BELTA)