CSR Guideline for State-Owned Enterprises (SOE)
by State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), PR China
publicly issued on Jan 4, 2008
1. Fully understand the importance of CSR among SOEs
a. CSR is based on actions to implement the philosophy of scientific development. It requires SOEs to not only develop in a people-centered, scientific way and make profits, but also to take responsibility for all stakeholders and the environment, and ultimately to harmonize the enterprise, social and environmental development.
b. CSR is a public expectation for SOEs. As key players in the Chinese economy influencing many important industrial fields, SOEs have a major impact on peoples’ lives. Consequently, CSR is not only the mission statement of SOEs, but also a public expectation.
c. CSR is an unavoidable pathway for SOEs' sustainable development. SOEs can improve their capability for innovation, corporate culture, reputation and human resource management if they can actively integrate CSR into their business operations.
d. CSR is also necessary from the perspective of international economic dialogue and cooperation for SOEs. It has become a key criteria worldwide when people assess the value of a company.
2. General guidelines, requirements and principles
a. General guide: Uphold Deng Xiaoping's Theory and Three Representatives Thoughts, make SOEs CSR practice pioneers, and contribute to the development of well-off society.
b. General requirement: SOEs should enhance their CSR awareness, actively fulfill social responsibility, and become model companies with legal compliance, integrity, energy efficiency, environmental protection and harmony.
c. General principles: Combine CSR and the process of SOE reform, and regard CSR as a key component of the transformation of SOEs into modern corporate institutions and to enhance all-round competitiveness.
3. Key contents for SOEs to implement CSR
a. Operate with legal compliance and integrity
b. Continuously improve profitability
c. Improve product and service quality
d. Save energy and protect the environment
e. Push forward self-innovation and technology development
g. Protect labor rights and the interests of workers
h. Engage in philanthropic activity
4. Key measures for SOEs to implement CSR
b. Establish and improve institutional arrangements for CSR
c. Establish CSR reporting systems
d. Enhance company level communication and international collaboration
f. Strengthen party organizations' leadership when SOEs implement CSR
Note: This is a short English brief for #001 document issued by SASAC on January 4, 2008, entitled "CSR Guideline for State-Owned Enterprises". It is translated by Guo Peiyuan of SynTao.
