Junior Chamber International Mauritius has in 2011 pledged to further the United Nations Global Compact 10 Principles and has submitted a commitment letter to the UN Secretary General.

In this context, JCI Mauritius has decided to launch a new flagship project, based on and to strengthen its commitment to the Global Compact principles. The focus of this first edition would be on employees working in firms willing to commit to the UN Global Compact Principles as well as on NGOs ready to embrace the UN Global Compact ten principles.

Employees in Mauritius have been in the limelight for various reasons so far in 2011, whether in cases of massive layoffs, in negotiations with employers for rights, in hunger strikes for salary, in the media to discuss the new labour and employment laws in Mauritius or through trade unions in negotiating new salaries and conditions of service with the Government. It is therefore natural that the first edition of this project lays emphasis on employees, and by extension on employers.

The project has several objectives, all of which are to create positive change. Hence, one of the objectives of the project is to make more employers and NGO’s aware of the UN Global Compact Principles, thereby encouraging them to pledge to follow the principles too. The set target is to encourage some 200 firms and NGO to sign a UNGC commitment letter. Yet another objective is to set a standard and recognize the contribution and doings of the employer or firm whose approach is most in line with the UN Global Compact Principles.

What is the UN Global Compact?
The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative with thousands of participants located in over 100 countries. As a multi-stake holder initiative, the UN Global Compact brings together all relevant actors – government, business, labour and civil society – to advance universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption.

The UN Global Compact’s ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption enjoy universal consensus and are derived from:

1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
2. The International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
3. The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
4. The United Nations Convention Against Corruption

The UN Global Compact (UNGC) does not require additional resources but only good-will from decision-makers in companies. The UNGC asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption.
The UN Global Compact ten principles are as follows:

Human Rights
Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

Labour
Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and
Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Environment
Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.

Anti-Corruption
Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

The project is already on and is moving forward with a satisfactory rate of progress.

The whole team is eagerly looking forward for support and collaboration of the whole JCI Mauritius community for this innovative project.

Kiran Bhujun
2011 JCI Mauritius National Secretary