Multi-National Enterprises and Corporate Social Responsibility in Fiji and Pacific Island Countries : Disability and Gender Equality

In 2014 and 2015, working with the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation, the ILO commissioned a survey to examine how corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) is understood by companies operating in Fiji with a particular focus on the labour dimensions of CSR. In total, forty companies participated in the survey. These findings were then discussed in a validation workshop that took place in March 2015 at the end of which a number of recommendations were made including the suggestion that the findings be utilized to produce a report which would focus on two labour issues of particular urgency. The primary research and literature review was used to assist in identifying the labour rights which should form the target of this project. Ultimately the researchers settled on a research question which analyses the extent to which CSR was able to combat workplace inequalities associated with disability and gender. The University of Queensland's Australian Institute for Business and Economics were retained to work with the ILO to produce a report which would: 1. Provide a legal analysis of International laws, Fijian laws and law's in Pacific Island Countries which promote workplace equality for persons with disabilities and women; 2. Provide a critical analysis of primary research performed in Fiji in 2014 and 2015; 3. Provide recommendations that are sourced in primary research and scholarship which explore options to fill policy and other gaps that exist in terms of creating a conducive environment for business including CSR practices