Social justice is not an aspiration, but the foundation of every stable society and a necessity for sustainable development and peace, and businesses that embrace social justice will shape the future.
This is the assessment from the ceremonial academy, which, on the occasion of the International Day of Social Justice, was organized by the Employers' Union of Montenegro with the support of the International Labor Organization, reports PR Center.
The Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Dialogue, Naida Nišić, emphasized that social justice is not only a moral imperative, but also a key pillar for achieving sustainable development and improving the quality of life of all citizens.
"As part of our commitment to social justice, the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Dialogue has adopted the National Decent Work Program 2024-2027 in cooperation with the International Labor Organization and social partners. This program has two key priorities, namely the promotion of inclusive and productive employment and the improvement of working conditions for all employees," said Nišić.
She emphasized that no institution can solve the challenges alone, and therefore a partnership between the Government, representative employers, trade unions and civil society is crucial.
"I call on all of you to work together to implement measures that will ensure decent work and equal opportunities for all. We will be committed to further promoting social justice, through strengthening the legal framework in line with international labor standards, improving the social protection system, and active participation of vulnerable groups - women, youth, and persons with disabilities - in the labor market," said Nišić.
Social justice, she concluded, is the foundation of every stable society, and it is a shared responsibility to ensure that every citizen of Montenegro has the opportunity for dignified work and a life in line with their potential.
The representative of the International Labor Organization, Iulia Drumea, said that companies that ensure that human and labor rights are respected create a stronger society, writes PR Center.
"Socially responsible businesses have much better employee motivation, much better brand recognition and recognition among customers. It has been proven that companies that ensure that social rights exist in their business operations can be much more resilient when difficult times come," Drumea is sure.
She is pleased, she said, that the Employers' Union is a leader in promoting social justice.
"Social justice is not an aspiration, but a necessity for sustainable development and peace. All current events, globally, prove that there is no peace without social justice. And businesses that embrace social justice will be the ones that will shape the future," Drumea is clear.
Regarding corporate social responsibility in the context of Business Agenda 2025, the Head of PR and Marketing at the MEF Gordana Bošković assessed that the association has been working dedicatedly for years to make corporate social responsibility an integral part of the business agenda and companies, regardless of their size and the sector in which they operate.
"Let's continue together to build an economy that is not only efficient and competitive, but also fair and sustainable, because this is not only an obligation to future generations, but also the best model for the long-term success of our companies and society as a whole," is the message of Bošković.
As part of the Ceremonial Academy on the occasion of the World Day of Social Justice, the MEF awarded awards for socially responsible business for 2024.
This is an event that the MEF has traditionally organized for the ninth time with the aim of promoting examples of good practices of socially responsible business to the public, as well as companies that design and implement such practices.
The awards were given in the categories of care for employees, care for the environment, and care for the community. The company that best incorporated CSR into its operations in all three categories was awarded the Grand Prize.
In the area of "Care for Employees" for 2024, the award went to the company Idea-CG, in the category of "Care for the Community" the award went to the Crnogorska Komercijalna Banka, while the laureate in the area of "Care for the Environment" was MONT WAY DOO.
This year's main prize went to the company COINIS DOO.
COINIS company manager Isidora Matović believes that the award represents significant recognition and is proof that companies in Montenegro can have a positive impact, both on employees and on the community.
"We believe that true success is achieved through education, support for young talents, and projects that make visible changes," said Matović.
Executive Director of IDEA-CG doo Podgorica, Ivan Karadžić, said that he was proud that the number of employees had grown, which made them not only larger, but also more responsible, more dedicated and motivated "to be better employers."
"The IDEA-CG company is not only an employer, but also a partner and ally to its employees, because our mission is to respond to their needs as adequately as possible and provide them with the best possible conditions," Karadzic is certain.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of CKB Bank, Tamás Kamarási, said that the award for socially responsible business is confirmation that CKB is not just a financial institution, but a true partner of the community.
"Through more than 40 socially responsible initiatives in the past year, we have invested in education, ecology, sports, culture and humanitarian projects," said Kamarási.
Executive Director of MONT WAY DOO Ilija Kaluđerović said that their mission is not just recycling packaging waste, but creating a culture in which all citizens become active participants in preserving natural resources.
"In the previous year, 35 environmental actions were organized, over 70 educational activities for children, youth, local communities and the professional public. 11 cities were covered, over 150 partnerships with institutions, companies and the NGO sector," said Kaluđerović.
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