JEDDAH: The Saudi public do not understand the difference between community service and corporate social responsibility (CSR) although the two are very different, said Asya Al-Ashaikh, executive director of Tamkeen CSR Consultancy.
“People still think CSR is about doing community service,” she said. It is for this reason she has organized a five-month long workshop, which started on Saturday, to inform journalists about CSR.
“The media is a very powerful tool,” said Al-Ashaikh, adding that reporters are responsible for making the public aware of the real meaning of CSR. “Together, we can create a socially responsible society,” she said.
Tareq Emtairah, a lecturer at Sweden’s Lund University and a CSR trainer, explained the idea behind corporate social responsibility. It is about how businesses match their values and actions with the expectations and needs of stakeholders — not just customers and investors, but also employees, suppliers, regulators, special interest groups and society as a whole.
“CSR describes a company’s commitment to be accountable to its stakeholders,” said Emtairah. “CSR demands businesses manage the economic, social and environmental impact of their operations to maximize benefits and minimize downsides,” he added.
Malake Anouti, project manager at Tamkeen, said public opinion must put pressure on the business community for change to take place.
“But how would that happen if the media doesn’t know the difference between CSR and community service? How would society know if the media doesn’t know?” she asked.
