Social division of ESCAP discusses diversity with private sector

The Hong Kong-based Asia-Pacific Diversity & Work-Life Strategy Council of The Conference Board recently invited Ms. Thelma Kay, Director, Emerging Social Issues Division (ESID) of ESCAP, to address its members on regional diversity and related social issues from a United Nations perspective.

The Conference Board is a prestigious global business membership and research organization. It provides its senior executive members with business intelligence and good practices and also promotes ethical business practice. The Asia-Pacific Diversity & Work-Life Strategy Council works to improve corporate culture and innovation through diversity and work-life strategy initiatives.

In response to the invitation, Ms. Kay assembled a team of presenters to speak on a broad range of social and human resources issues of interest to Council members, who are senior managers and directors responsible for diversity and work-life strategy in leading global companies. Ms. Kay and her colleagues addressed the Council on 18 April at PepsiCo International’s Bangkok office.

Mr. Andrew Bell, Program Director at The Conference Board, introduced the Council members in attendance, representing Accenture, BP, Credit Suisse, EMC², ITT, PepsiCo and Shell. He invited participants to share their respective areas of work as well as diversity and work-life goals. Ms. Kay presented an overview of ESCAP and the issues addressed by the Social division, highlighting its emphasis on non-discrimination and key employment considerations resulting from changing age structures, such as increasing proportion of youth and older persons.

Mr. James Bradley, Chief of Human Resources at ESCAP, presented on diversity and work-life issues and policies within the United Nations system. Despite significant differences between the United Nations system and the private sector in organizational structure and policies, it emerged that many issues and challenges are shared and that much can be learned through an exchange of experiences.

Ms. Lisa Ainbinder, Associate Social Affairs Officer, Gender and Development Section, ESID, addressed the Council on the United Nations Global Compact, a voluntary multi-stakeholder initiative that is the key United Nations instrument for promoting corporate social responsibility. She also spoke on gender diversity and select findings from the 2007 Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific published by ESCAP, which identifies the monetary costs to the region of gender inequality in education and the labour force.

Ms. Aiko Akiyama, Social Affairs Officer, Population and Social Integration Section, ESID, addressed disability issues and opportunities to increase participation in the workplace of persons with disabilities. She cited several good practice cases and noted the entry into force in early May 2008 of the first-ever human rights treaty of persons with disabilities.

ESCAP is grateful to The Conference Board’s Asia-Pacific Diversity & Work-Life Strategy Council for providing this opportunity to engage with leaders of the private sector and openly discuss and exchange experiences on important work force diversity and work-life balance issues. All participants expressed interest in continuing such information exchange and collaboration.