Corporate social responsibility

It is evident that successful companies are the key driving force of economic and social welfare in the whole world. Competition, social employment and progress would be hardly possible without successful companies. Companies are an inseparable part of the modern world – they influence our everyday life and contribute to our welfare.

A modern socially responsible company is the one that voluntarily applies social and environmental principles and promotes the sense of community and transparent business. A socially responsible company does more than is required by legal provisions – it closely cooperates with other interested parties, trying to secure benefit not only for itself and its owners and/or shareholders but also for its employees and the whole society, and improve the image of business among people.

State institutions, social partners, and non-governmental organisations cooperate in seeking to encourage business to implement various initiatives of corporate social responsibility. Socially responsible companies are acknowledged and appreciated.

The National Responsible Business Awards recognise socially responsible companies. Since 2013, companies have been presented with three nominations: “Workplace of the Year”, “The Most Socially Oriented Company of the Year”, and “Environmentally-Friendly Company of the Year”. The companies are divided in three categories: micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, large enterprises, and international enterprises or their subsidiaries/representative offices operating in Lithuania. Every year one of the companies competing for the National Responsible Business Awards is presented with the main award of “Socially Responsible Company of the Year”. Additional nominations are established for promoting physical activity, healthy lifestyles, and the initiatives of youth entrepreneurship. The companies are also recognised for supporting young people and young families.

In 2016, socially responsible companies received the National Responsible Business Awards for the tenth time. Additional awards were presented to companies that made a progress the areas of gender equality and the integration of the disabled.

In 2013-2015, non-governmental organisations and social partners made proposals to the Ministry of Social Security and Labour on encouraging social responsibility initiatives in 2014-2020. In response to these proposals, on 12 February 2016 the Minister of Social Security and Labour issued an order to approve the Action Plan for Encouraging Corporate Social Responsibility for 2016-2020.

In 2017-2020, measures under this action plan will be financed with the funds of the EU investment programme, with the aim of achieving the concrete task – to encourage initiatives promoting social entrepreneurship and social responsibility. Corporate social responsibility will be encouraged by arranging and financing training, consultations, personnel exchange, research and assessment, raising the awareness of society, organising campaigns aimed at promoting corporate social responsibility, etc. The promotion of corporate social responsibility is aimed at increasing the responsibility of companies for their impact on the environment and society. Companies will be encouraged to embrace social responsibility and apply the horizontal principles of responsible business, such as responsible use of resources, socially responsible management of human resources, occupational health and safety, equality between men and women, prohibiting discrimination on grounds of age, disability, etc.