Commentary

China Watch

Forum Digests

Columnists

Letters

Firms' social responsibility

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-01-06 07:40

Enterprises should shoulder more social responsibilities in the process of self-development to enhance their image of honesty and trustworthiness, says an article in www.eastday.com. An excerpt follows:

A recent Beijing survey conducted by the Capital University of Economics and Business shows that among the country's major industries, the property industry enjoys the lowest trust ranking in society and the food sector comes next.

In the aftermath of the Sanlu milk powder contamination scandal, it is not a surprise that the food sector has suffered a credibility crisis. But why was the real estate industry hit the worst? Undoubtedly, the industry's No 1 position is a direct reflection of the low social responsibility it has taken in the past years.

As a pillar industry, the property sector often remains absent in the forefront when the country mobilizes all resources to battle natural disasters. Its absence from the list of donators after the snowstorm disaster in southern China early last year, for example, demonstrates the lack of social responsibility on the part of the whole industry.

The success of responsible enterprises testifies that the strength of their development originates from their active undertaking of social responsibilities. Enterprises would inevitably be rejected by the society if they refuse to contribute to it.

(China Daily 01/06/2009 page8)