NECA urges employers to embrace responsible business conduct

NECA has urged Nigerian businesses to adopt responsible and sustainable practices, emphasising the growing global focus on human rights and corporate transparency

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Director General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale Smatt-Oyerinde, called on Nigerian employers to adopt responsible business conduct to ensure growth both locally and internationally.

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Speaking at a Lagos workshop organised by NECA, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), Smatt-Oyerinde highlighted the importance of shifting from profit-driven practices to sustainable, ethical operations.

He noted that global business trends now emphasise sustainability, human rights, and environmental governance.

Smatt-Oyerinde explained that the workshop aimed to help NECA member companies tackle challenges related to sustainability and human rights in the workplace.

He emphasised that businesses must align with global standards, which now focus on how operations affect the entire value chain, including human rights.

The Director General further stressed that responsible business practices are no longer optional, as international expectations have made transparency and accountability mandatory.

He also addressed the outdated labour laws in Nigeria, noting that new realities such as the care and platform economies require faster action from the government to update these laws.

Similarly, Benedetta Nobile, Project Technical Officer at ILO, highlighted the significance of decent work pillars, including productive employment, rights at work, social protection, and social dialogue.

Kinga Dery, Human Rights Specialist at IOE, also called for deeper analysis of the root causes that hinder responsible business conduct.

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Participants of the workshop urged employers to create a strategic roadmap for adopting responsible business practices that promote decent work.