Exporting goods to the EU, businesses should not forget to fulfill social responsibility

One of the criteria for exporting goods to Europe that businesses need to keep in mind is to fulfill social responsibility, including promoting gender equality.

In a recent interview with the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh - Vice President of the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Chairman of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD-VCCI) - said that one of the criteria that businesses need to pay attention to when exporting goods to European Union (EU) countries is to not forget to fulfill social responsibility, including promoting gender equality and gender equity.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh - Vice President of VCCI. Photo: NH

How do you evaluate the current status of promoting gender equality in Vietnamese enterprises recently?

It can be said that, compared to the past, gender equality and gender equity in enterprises in Vietnam have been implemented much better. We have had many policy frameworks to promote gender equality in general and in enterprises in particular. VCCI has recently implemented activities to promote gender equality in enterprises on the basis of cooperation with enterprises and cooperation with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), as well as ministries and branches. Thereby, gender equality activities in Vietnamese enterprises have been raised to a new level.

However, to better implement gender equality in enterprises, Vietnam still needs more specific plans and programs to support female-owned enterprises in particular and Vietnamese enterprises in general to better implement this plan in the coming time.

Businesses need to pay attention to social responsibility if they want to export goods to Europe. Photo: ST

In your opinion, how important are the criteria for implementing social responsibility and gender equality for Vietnamese businesses today?

Implementing social responsibility, gender equality, and gender equity are some of the very important criteria for Vietnamese businesses. This is also one of the criteria that, if done well, complied with, and practiced well, will bring great opportunities for businesses in the context of many current challenges.

This is also one of the important criteria that businesses need to implement if they want to export goods to the European Union (EU) and some other countries. Because the EU has criteria on social responsibility, sustainable development (CSRD) and has in-depth criteria on gender equality, so if they want to export goods to Europe, businesses need to comply with these criteria.

For example, the EU requires that when importing goods from abroad, those goods must be produced in a business that fulfills social responsibility and implements good practices on gender equality and gender equity. Accordingly, if Vietnamese businesses do not meet these criteria when exporting goods to the EU market, they will sometimes encounter difficulties. Notably, not only the EU but also the US market or demanding markets such as Japan and Korea are currently introducing criteria on social responsibility, including criteria on gender equality in businesses.

Accordingly, if Vietnamese enterprises effectively implement social responsibility and promote gender equality and gender equity, it will also be a source of motivation for enterprises to increase labor productivity and competitiveness in the international market.

Obviously, implementing social responsibility and promoting gender equality will bring great opportunities for businesses. However, the implementation of these criteria in businesses is still limited. In your opinion, what are the "barriers" for businesses?

In my opinion, the policies of state agencies to support businesses in implementing social responsibility and gender equality are quite good now, however, to implement these criteria, businesses still face two main barriers.

Firstly , businesses have not yet recognized the important role of social responsibility and promoting gender equality. This is an important issue, however, currently, most Vietnamese businesses are small and medium-sized, even micro-sized, so sometimes they do not fully recognize the importance of implementing social responsibility as well as gender equality, practicing gender equality, so that is also a barrier for businesses today.

Second , in addition to difficulties in awareness, Vietnamese enterprises, most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises, also face financial and human resources, so they have difficulties in implementing social responsibilities and promoting gender equality. To support enterprises in implementing social responsibilities and improving competitiveness, VCCI has also had specific programs and plans to support enterprises in overcoming these barriers.

In the coming time, the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council (a unit under VCCI) and VCCI, as well as VCCI's partners, have planned to continue implementing activities and plans such as communication, training, coaching, and even awarding awards to female-owned businesses with good practices in promoting gender equality. At the same time, supporting female-owned businesses in particular and the business community in general to improve competitiveness, increase productivity and better implement sustainable development.

Thank you!

Source: https://congthuong.vn/xuat-khau-hang-hoa-sang-eu-doanh-nghiep-dung-quen-thuc-hien-trach-nhiem-xa-hoi-362380.html