What is the ESR distinction?
The ESR Distinction is an award granted annually in Mexico by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (Cemefi) and AliaRSE (Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility). It accredits companies before employees, investors, clients, authorities, and society in general for voluntarily and publicly committing to socially responsible management as part of their culture and business strategy. While the ESR Distinction is not the only tool for recognizing corporate social responsibility strategies in Mexico, it enjoys the greatest recognition at the business, governmental, and academic levels. The distinction is not a CSR certification because it is not an audit process. It is a self-assessment process covering various areas of the company. All legally established companies operating in Mexico, regardless of size or sector, can participate in obtaining the distinction. Benefits: Today, the benefits of being a socially responsible company are numerous. The ESR Distinction is not a one-time commitment; it must be renewed annually to maintain a current culture of corporate responsibility. How to obtain the ESR Distinction? Obtaining the ESR Distinction is based on a self-assessment process, documented by the company and verified by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy (Cemefi). It is based on four areas of corporate social responsibility: To learn more about the distinction and how to register, you can visit the website for guidance: https://www.cemefi.org/esr/ At GDI, we have held this ESR Distinction since 2011, and for the past 10 years, the company has been fulfilling its four fundamental pillars by developing a set of initiatives in recycling and waste reduction, energy efficiency, water conservation, and the development of garments with recyclable materials. These 10 years attest to our commitment, during which time we have shown our dedication not only internally to our employees but also externally to our clients, suppliers, and, most importantly, the environment. We have fulfilled this commitment and will continue to do so for many more years. It is a commitment, something that distinguishes us, and something we value every day.
How to achieve Business Sustainability
Corporate sustainability encompasses the efforts a company makes to sustain its economic activity, considering social and environmental factors, and ensuring responsible resource management. What are the five principles that any company aspiring to achieve business sustainability must adhere to? How can corporate sustainability be achieved? In this regard, organizational culture plays a key role in establishing internal practices for the efficient use of resources, considering all the aforementioned variables. The company must take into account the value chain (inputs, processes, and outputs), and it must also consider the constant evaluation of actions that involve resource expenditures in order to improve and manage them better, thereby maximizing efficiency and, consequently, the company's profitability. Another important aspect concerns how corporate sustainability is communicated and how consumers and clients validate it. When companies successfully communicate their actions toward achieving greater sustainability, consumers can question, accept, and/or support them. In short, developing a sustainable business is no easy task. It requires willpower, talent in business management, and a broad and deep understanding of the environment, allowing us to identify the elements that must be carefully considered during the production process. At GDI, we understand that this is hard work, but little by little we have undertaken the task of implementing the necessary measures to become sustainable, starting internally with our employees in their daily work. We are committed to having a company that is environmentally friendly and responsible towards everything around it. We are the future, and therefore we must comply with everything that safeguards the well-being of the company and the ecosystem.
What do you know about Social Sustainability?
Social sustainability in economic activity refers to actions that support a company's development in harmony with its environment and, specifically, with the people it serves. It involves adopting values that foster behaviors such as valuing nature, maintaining harmonious and satisfactory levels of education, training, and awareness, offering support to a country's population to improve themselves, maintain a good standard of living, and encouraging their involvement in creating something new within the society they are part of today. What aspects should a company consider to be socially sustainable? Primarily, the balance between the benefits it obtains from its economic activity in a given territory and the benefits that the community and society can derive from that activity in terms of employment, economic development, business activities, environmental stewardship, preservation of cultural practices, and the strengthening of community projects, among others. Pillars of social sustainability. There are three fundamental premises that can guarantee the social sustainability of projects; these include: What benefits does social sustainability offer to organizations? The benefits are numerous, but the most significant is their long-term nature, meaning they are sustainable over time. Some benefits of implementing social sustainability include: At GDI, we have various sustainability projects, such as reusing fabric scraps, implementing regenerated garments, and protecting the environment and resources. We constantly provide training to our employees on how to carry out future activities and projects with a sustainable vision, not only for the environment but also for our clients and the community at large.
Changes you should know about in outsourcing
The new Outsourcing Reform was approved by the Senate in April 2021. This reform regulates outsourcing, prohibiting the subcontracting of personnel but allowing the subcontracting of specialized services or the execution of specialized projects that are not part of the company's core business or primary economic activity. The goal of this reform is to prevent companies from continuing to engage in unethical practices, such as tax evasion or violations of workers' rights established in the Federal Labor Law. WHAT ARE THE MULTIPLE CHANGES TO THE REGULATION OF SUBCONTRACTING IN OUR COUNTRY? The legal changes that will be applied in relation to outsourcing are as follows: Companies that choose to disregard these new regulations will be subject to fines. OUTSOURCING FINES: IN CASE OF VIOLATION OF THE LAW… The approved modifications include reforms to the Federal Labor Law to impose a fine of up to 4,481,000 pesos (up to 50,000 UMAs) for anyone who carries out or provides subcontracting services without the corresponding registration. Likewise, changes will be established to the Federal Tax Code to consider this practice as a tax fraud offense, punishable by up to three years in prison. If an employer does not allow inspection and oversight by the authorities, they will be subject to a fine of between 22,000 and 448,000 pesos. ACTIONS THAT THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT MUST TAKE With this new reform, HR departments will have to implement multiple changes within companies. This department is responsible for driving organizations toward optimal management of their employees. Among the activities that will need to be carried out, we can find: These activities must be completed by August 1, 2021, at the latest, in order to be adapted to the new legislation.