Businesses Committing to UN Global Compact

There are officially 24 local businesses in Jordan registered and committed to the UN Global Compact (UNGC). 10 principles are universally accepted through the UNGC in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. The UNGC is a “strategic policy initiative for businesses that are considered primary agents driving globalization and can help ensure that markets, commerce, technology and finance advance in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere” (UNGC website). By endorsing the UNGC last year, Jordan became one of the first Arab countries to support the initiative.

There are over 4,700 corporate participants from over 130 countries, which make it the biggest corporate citizenship and sustainability initiative in the world.

The ten principles are:

Human Rights:

1. Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and

2. Make sure that they are not complicit in human right abuses

Labor Standards:

3. Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining

4. The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor

5. The effective abolition of child labor; and

6. The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation

Environment:

7. Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;

8. Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and