Asia Society Policy Institute

Guidelines for contractors operating overseas.

Offers specific guidance to strengthen social responsibility governance, management, performance, and information disclosure.

Contractors should:

• Observe host country laws and regulations, relevant Chinese regulations, and international best practices. 
• Integrate social responsibility commitments with their own corporate purpose, vision, strategy, and culture.
  • Align social responsibility targets with their business development.
• Establish employer-employee negotiation mechanisms in accordance with local laws and practices.
• Develop carbon peak and carbon neutrality strategies.
  • Set out and implement scientific plans to achieve carbon reduction goals.

Contractors should:

• Disclose decisions or activities that may significantly impact the local society, economy, and environment.
• Improve the livelihoods of people in host countries and regions.
• Integrate into local society by achieving mutual sustainable development.
• Regularly disclose social responsibility information and performance, including corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports; environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reports; and sustainability reports.
• Provide healthy and safe working and living conditions.
  • Minimize occupational health and safety (H&S) risks.
• Offer training programs in project quality, health and safety, and environmental protection to workers.
• Encourage workers to continue their education for academic qualifications.
• Offer training and programs in language, law, culture, psychology, and other areas to Chinese workers to promote mutual respect, understanding, and exchange across cultures.
• Strengthen communication and exchanges with local communities throughout the project life cycle.
• Support and inform low-income groups, women, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups throughout each project.
• Provide an open and transparent complaint procedure to communities.
• Hire local laborers affected by projects.
  • Offer vocational training to local communities.
• Respect and protect local culture and heritage.
• Attend and support local cultural events.
• Encourage workers to volunteer within communities to enhance communication.

Contractors should:

• Integrate ESG considerations into their social responsibility processes.
• Track their carbon footprint, save resources, and implement pollution control measures throughout the project life cycle.
• Prepare pollution contingency plans.
• Undertake environmental impact assessments (EIAs), due diligence, and other processes to prevent risks before project implementation begins.
• Protect the environment and minimize adverse impacts.