scholarly journals The Working Conditions in The Mining Sector: The Case of Mchenga and Kaziwiziwi Coal Mines in Malawi

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalani Geone Fungameza Malema
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Coal Mines ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Mining Sector ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Lack Of Knowledge

The purpose of this paper is to examine the working conditions in the mining sector in relation to Mchenga and Kaziwiziwi coal mines in Rumphi district in Malawi. The paper reports that the working conditions in the mining sector are generally poor and that the workers’ organizations and their activities in the mining sector are effective tools for the improved working conditions. The paper however, argues that, to a greater extent, it is over expectations compounded by lack of knowledge on part of (amongst the) the employees and/or the community members around the mining workplaces regarding aspects of legal and non-legal liabilities of the workplace employers towards the implementation of labour practices and of corporate social responsibility interventions that complicates the sufferings of most mining sector employees in Malawi. It is thus important to encourage the establishment of workers’ organizations at a workplace and for stakeholders such as Civil Society Organizations to be conclusive in their complementary roles to government when it comes to the implementation of advocacy activities to the communities (employees) around the mining workplaces especially in the event that such activities’ implications have potential effects to cause some forms of conflicts between the mining workplace employers and their employees including the surrounding community members thereby likely to complicate workers’ sufferings as a result of some unresolved consequences.  

Corporate social responsibility: is it an alternative to government?

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis Xavier Dery Tuokuu ◽  
Kwesi Amponsah-Tawiah
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Multinational Corporations ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conceptual Paper ◽  
The Government ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained global prominence in recent years. This is because businesses have seen the need to consider the interests of stakeholders not only to enhance their corporate image but also to live good neighbourly lives with the communities in which they operate. The purpose of this paper is to examine the value of engaging stakeholders and recommend multinational corporations not to take over the governance of countries in which they operate as a result of their financial muscle but to play complementary roles to help in the development of those countries. Although CSR is no longer new in Africa according to recent studies, it is suffering from identity crisis, as it has been used generally and severally to refer to different issues. This conceptual paper discusses the notion of CSR practice in Africa and the major issues and debates around it. It looks at the role of government and civil society organisations that are at the forefront playing watchdog and vigilante roles for the benefit of the society. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual paper. Findings The paper argues that business and society cannot exist without working together and that responsible business is key to sustainable development. It traces the roots of CSR and the emergence of the concept. It advises that what is required in Africa is for the media and civil society organizations to play watchdog and vigilante roles in ensuring that businesses are socially responsible, accountable and transparent. If governments and businesses are transparent and accountable, then the citizens become the greatest beneficiary. The profit margins of businesses will also increase and there will be sustainable development. The paper also indicates that the concept of CSR is gaining grounds in Africa and is no longer new as indicated by previous studies. It recommends that Africa should have its own CSR programmes designed to fit into the African setting. The paper examines the major issues and debates on CSR and concludes that any attempt to introduce uniform laws to ensure responsible business operations universally will not work as situations differ from country to country. The overreliance on corporate entities, particularly Multinational corporations (MNCs) and transnational corporation (TNCs), for the direct development of African economies is not sustainable, as these corporate entities cannot continue to fulfil these obligations meant for the development of infrastructure and still be expected to provide basic amenities for communities under the guise of fulfilling CSR. This process of national development is unsustainable. Originality/value The paper recommends a multi-stakeholder approach in designing and implementing CSR programmes. The government, civil society, community and the company should collaborate and constantly have stakeholder engagements as that are the only way of attaining a win-win benefit. MNCs and TNCs should see the government and other stakeholders as partners in development and not lord it over them as a result of their financial muscle. It is recommended that more research work be done in CSR education in Africa. This is to enable business operators and communities understand the true meaning of CSR and to know that the concept goes beyond philanthropy or donations. It will also help them understand that the concept goes beyond community relations to include issues such as human rights, child labour, environmental governance and corporate tax among others.

Developing State Capacity: The Missing Variable for Corporate Social Responsibility?

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 290-311
Author(s):  
Anil Hira
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
State Capacity ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Environmental Concerns ◽  
Global Compact ◽  
Regulatory Capacity ◽  
Corporate Social

The emergence of “corporate social responsibility” (CSR) among Western multinationals reflects doubts about governments in the South to regulate production as well as a vacuum of global regulatory capacity and authority. In response to criticism, media shaming, and protests from NGOs and civil society organizations centered around labor and environmental concerns, corporations began to organize a global public regime, as reflected in the Global Compact, in the 1990s. CSR is the focus of both national and global agreements, with companies starting to work with international organizations and NGOs in emerging CSR “mixed regimes.” Yet there are inherent contradictions in both CSR and mixed regimes, ones that can only be resolved by reasserting a more activist role for the developing state.

scholarly journals Stakeholder interactions and corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Obby Phiri ◽  
Elisavet Mantzari ◽  
Pauline Gleadle
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
The State ◽  
Copper Mining ◽  
Mining Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Stakeholder Interactions ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to critically explore the interactions of key stakeholders and their impact upon corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in the Zambian copper mining sector. In particular, the authors examine the power dynamics that emerge in the stakeholder interactions. Design/methodology/approach The authors analyse the stakeholder interactions based on the varying degrees of stakeholder salience and critical collaboration potential, and draw on rich evidence from 43 interviews with multiple stakeholders involved in CSR in the Zambia mining sector. Findings This paper finds stark power asymmetries in the relationship between the state, the civil society and mining companies which are exacerbated by a number of factors, including divisions within these key stakeholders themselves. Apart from power imbalances within and between stakeholders, the potential for critical collaboration at the local level is further challenged by the lack of commonly accepted social and environmental frameworks, transparency and accountability of the leadership of stakeholder groups. However, despite these power asymmetries some limited agency is possible, as civil society in particular co-opts previously dormant stakeholders to increase its own salience and, more importantly, that of the state. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature on the key stakeholders’ interactions shaping CSR in developing countries by exploring these issues in a critical industry, the Zambian copper mining sector, on which the state economy is so heavily dependent.

The Role Corporate Social Responsibility Has in the Smart City Project in Spain

2019 ◽  
pp. 1562-1582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mª Asunción López-Arranz
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Welfare ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Smart City ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Improve Working ◽  
The Right ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Conditions Of Work

The object and justification of this chapter is to analyse how Smart Cities will have an impact on workers' social welfare. Another aspect is the opportunity for businesses immersed in Smart Cities to improve working conditions through corporate social responsibility, reverting in this way to the society all that they have to offer. The future of employment in Smart Cities is analysed. Anyway, the realisation of the present work also has allowed to check how finds Spain in the implantation of this model of Cities and as they are involved the Spanish companies. In this sense, the investigation after an unproductive analysis and conceptual of the terms business social responsibility and smart quote analyses the implication of the right of the work in the new cities through the repercussion of these in the conditions of work of the workers taken by the companies so much of the small, of the average as of the big company, to finish with conclusions. It analyses the normative activity that Spain has developed specifically in this regard and his plans in the aim 20/20.

The Role Corporate Social Responsibility Has in the Smart City Project in Spain

2017 ◽  
pp. 439-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mª Asunción López-Arranz
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Welfare ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Smart City ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Improve Working ◽  
The Right ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Conditions Of Work

The object and justification of this chapter is to analyse how Smart Cities will have an impact on workers' social welfare. Another aspect is the opportunity for businesses immersed in Smart Cities to improve working conditions through corporate social responsibility, reverting in this way to the society all that they have to offer. The future of employment in Smart Cities is analysed. Anyway, the realisation of the present work also has allowed to check how finds Spain in the implantation of this model of Cities and as they are involved the spanish companies. In this sense, the investigation after an unproductive analysis and conceptual of the terms business social responsibility and smart quote analyses the implication of the right of the work in the new cities through the repercussion of these in the conditions of work of the workers taken by the companies so much of the small, of the average as of the big company, to finish with conclusions. It analyses the normative activity that Spain has developed specifically in this regard and his plans in the aim 20/20.

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