Doing business in Lithuania: Sustainability
25 April 2012by Ina Dimireva -- last modified 27 April 2012
Several legal acts in Lithuania regulate sustainable development. However, businesses can voluntariliy choose whether to undertake corporate social initiatives.
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Legal requirements
The following legal acts regulate sustainable development:
Draft Law on Social Initiatives of Enterprises
Measures promoting corporate social responsibility for 2006-2008
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate social responsibility means policy and practice of businesses whereby, in keeping with laws, international agreements and agreed norms of behaviour, they voluntarily integrate social, environmental and transparent business principles into their activities.
The Ministry of Social Security and Labour is responsible for corporate social responsibility. CSR means the voluntary involvement of businesses in the search for solutions to social and environmental issues, while following the principles of respect for human beings, society and nature.
Ministry of Social Security and Labour
Corporate social initiatives means voluntary company investment in measures to improve the following:
- development of employee social welfare;
- working conditions;
- health-promoting activities;
- psychological support;
- skill development;
- promotion of life-long learning;
- leisure time organisation and a healthy way of living;
- development of social partnerships; and
- other social partnerships aimed at promoting employee motivation and their loyalty to the company.
Corporate social initiatives are described in the Draft Law on Social Initiatives of Enterprises:
Standards
Corporate social responsibility standards:
Quality management systems - Requirements
Environmental management systems - Requirements with guidance for use
Environmental labels and declarations - General principles
Environmental labels and declarations - Type I environmental labelling - Principles and procedures
Occupational health and safety management systems - Guide
Occupational health and safety management systems - Requirements
Businesses that have implemented Work Safety Management Systems
The law requires businesses to comply with minimum social and environmental rules.
Administrative procedures
Applying corporate social responsibility
Businesses can become members of the Global Compact and/or the National Responsible Business Network.
How to become a member of the Global Compact
Resources
A list of socially responsible businesses, information about the newest trends as well as legal acts and communications are published on a web portal of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Doing business in Lithuania: Environmental rules
Doing business in Lithuania: Staff welfare
Source: Your Europe
