EFC makes its case on ‘Compliance+’ branding at ILO, Geneva
View(s):The Employers Federation of Ceylon (EFC) that launched a key initiative to upgrade the standards of businesses especially the SMEs through its Compliance + brand had showcased this in a presentation at the recent International Labour Conference in Geneva.
EFC Director General Ravi Peiris said in a media release issued by the organisation that the Compliance + brand initiative launched in October last year was aimed at Sri Lankan businesses that compete in the global market by satisfying the following critria namely equal opportunities in employment; employer-employee relations; work arrangement practices; and the environment.
Businesses can join this initiative and obtain relevant certification voluntarily, which examines employment practices in relation to the key areas looked at, Mr. Peiris said. He noted that this branding would enable Sri Lankan businesses to be brought under an exclusive brand identity which has recognition from the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The ILO, Mr. Peiris said, had encouraged and supported both the launch and in the run up to the awards night scheduled for Wednesday, June 24. In this respect, the International Organisation of Enterprises (IOE) invited the EFC to make a presentation at a High Level Employers Forum scheduled to be held in Geneva this month during the ILO conference.
Mr. Peiris explaining the significant features of this branding, stated it was different from other social audits in that it focuses on the perception of the employees and obtaining their feedback on their perception of their employer. “We believe employees must be engaged in a branding of this nature which gives credibility to the standard in the eyes of all stakeholders,” he stated in the release.
The SME sector could use this branding to their advantage as they need to showcase their exemplary employment practices while other businesses could be motivated to achieve the standard required to push this establishments to another level, Mr. Peiris stated.