Introduction

SOMO and ISD Kandy felt the need for training of civil society organisations (CSOs) and trade unions (TUs) on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in general and CSR certification in particular. This training is aimed especially at CSOs in the tea and garment sector. Above all other sectors in Sri Lanka these export oriented sectors increasingly are faced with demands of buyers for increased and assured social, environmental and economic quality. For instance both upstream and downstream companies in the tea sector increasingly adopt or require CSR policies and (as a result) more and more CSR certification initiatives (global standards) are entering or about to enter the market. Consequentially CSOs that aim to improve social, economic and environmental conditions find themselves questioning their response to this emerging trend.

To illustrate CSOs in the tea sector are being approached by existing and emerging CSR schemes, either for information or for a role in the initiative. However, it is not always easy to distinguish between the various schemes and to be able to understand how effective they are. For trade unions in particular, the question is often posed whether these CSR initiatives are undermining or reinforcing worker organising and workers rights.

The garment sector nationally and internationally has more experience with the implementation of corporate CSR policies such as codes of conduct and their verification than the tea sector. However many Sri Lankan CSOs have limited knowledge on CSR and the possibility it might offer to contribute to organisational goals. Therefore it is expected that also CSOs addressing
sustainability issues in this sector could benefit largely from this training workshop with its systematic approach and coverage of the latest CSR trends and impacts of CSR standards. NGOs in
both sectors will benefit from the exchange of experiences and developments in each other’s sectors.

Scope

In order for Southern CSOs and unions to be able to make an informed and strategically sound decision about their role and involvement in, or approach to, CSR initiatives detailed
knowledge about various concepts and aspects thereof such as governance, scope, goals, implementation and verification systems, level of stakeholder involvement, complaints mechanisms
and of course impacts and market shares is required. To a large extend these mechanisms and aspects would apply to individual company, sectoral and cross-sectoral initiatives as well. In
the training the mechanisms and aspects of the most relevant initiatives will be analysed and discussed. Another important element of the training is the analysis and discussion of the various
options for CSO engagement, from being directly involved as one of the participating stakeholders, being involved in monitoring and verification process, being one of the consulted
parties to playing the role of watchdog organisation.

Objective

The objective of this training workshop is to increase capacities of non-governmental organisations and trade unions to effectively
cope with CSR, and CSR certification in particular, as a tool to promote sustainable development. Thereby supporting civil society organisations in finding appropriate and effective
approaches by discussing and identifying important concepts, trends, strategies and lessons learned in the field of CSR building on knowledge from within and outside the tea and garment
sector

Participants

NGOs and TUs working on the tea and garment sector in Sri Lanka and/or worldwide are hereby cordially invited to register by contacting Ms. Gayathri Katulanda on:
Institute of Social Development
No. 37, Bodhiyangana Mawatha,
Kandy
Sri Lanka
Tel/Fax : (0094) 81 220 29 23
Email : kandyisd@sltnet.lk
Limited seats are available, attendance and stay is free of charge.

Speakers and contributors

(To be confirmed) industry representatives (Tata tea, Sri Lanka
Tea Board), (inter)national governmental representatives (ILO),
TUs (FTZWU, Plantation Sector Social Forum and the Joint
Plantation Trade Union Sector) and NGOs (ISD Kandy, SOMO,
Solidaridad India)