A UN survey said that there were still major shortcomings in business's approach to human rights and anti-corruption measures.
GENEVA: A United Nations survey on Monday said that there were still major shortcomings in business's approach to human rights and anti-corruption measures despite progress in adopting socially and environmentally responsible standards.
The first report on the corporate response to the UN's seven-year-old partnership with companies, the Global Compact, said there was 'much room for advancement' on corporate assessments of their impact on human rights, reporting cases of corruption, and in overseeing their suppliers' compliance.
"The survey shows there are distinct areas where companies are excelling and others where they lag," it added.
The human rights group Amnesty International said the voluntary arrangement had not been effective so far and voiced frustration at the lack of enforcement of the 10 pledges dealing with human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption.
The report was released ahead of the biggest meeting yet on the UN's Global Compact in Geneva on Thursday and Friday.
It is due to bring together about 650 business executives, as well as ministers, campaign groups, and international organisations.
The 60 page survey of about 400 companies marks the first time the United Nations has tried to assess the implementation of its 10 principles by the Compact's near 4,000 strong corporate members.
The public benchmarking will now be annual, Global Compact Executive Director Georg Kell said.
Eighty-nine per cent of companies said they gave employees greater say in policies on labour standards, more than 80 per cent said they had measures against discrimination, while 69 per cent allowed trade unions.
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