It has been noted that companies have realised that corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices and compliance is more than just an added cost to the business.

Yukiko Arai, an International Labour Organisation specialist, says CSR is core for sustainable business practices.

Ms Arai was speaking during the 2016 Top Executives (TOPEX) Conference at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa on Denarau Island.

She is the senior specialist of the ILO’s Multinational Enterprises and Enterprise Engagement Unit of Geneva, Switzerland.

One of her key message to the business executives was that CSR should not be something done because it is a requirement perhaps by their buyers.

“It is something you do because it makes business sense and also it makes sense to actively practice good business practices,” she said.

Unfortunately, in the Pacific and indeed in Fiji, Ms Arai stressed normally the hotel/tourism sector is not as active in CSR or promoting compliance within their operations.

She was comparing the hotel/tourism sector with the mining/manufacturing sector.

However, Ms Arai said this was not to say the hotel/tourism was not doing anything.

“But this comes from the fact the garment/mining industries have had some negative incidents which compel them to be actively challenged,” she said.

“This is one of the reasons CSR initiatives are active in these other sectors. But this is not to say the companies who promote CSR are not from the hotel/tourism sector,” she said.

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