Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility Essay

Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example Business ethics posses wide explanatory dimensions. As a business practice and as a matter of professional interest, the area is mainly normative. Academics try to comprehend the ethical business behavior by the application of descriptive means. The variety and magnitude of business ethical issues replicate the communication of profit-maximizing behavior with non-economic apprehension. The importance of business ethics speeded up considerably throughout the 1980s and 1990s, together within main corporations as well as in business. As an illustration, nowadays, most of the major corporations encourage their dedication to non-economic standards under the caption of as ethics codes and social accountability agreement. Administration makes use of law and conventions, to indicate the ethical business behavior in what they make out to be useful directions. Ethics absolutely legalize areas and information of behavior that stretch out further than that of governmental power. Describe how the two companies – Anglo-American and Primark apply ethics in practice? Anglo American provides a lot to the deliberate principles on safety and human rights. The policy sets out beliefs and practices to ensure business necessities the safety of its workers, and also business operation in unstable countries. Therefore the principles direct on how the private and public security services in mining operations should be investigated, qualified in human rights, supervised and controlled. Anglo American plans to ensure that it contribute well in caring the human rights of its staff and confined people in nations, in which it functions. The business always agrees with the values put forward by the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’. The Anglo American strongly declares that the company can extend a helping hand to governments in eradicating famine, economic discrimination and in improving of heath and medical aids. In South Africa, the Anglo American was the chief c ampaigner for AIDS awarness.It was the first major business organization in South Africa to declare that it could offer retroviral drugs to its HIV victim staff, free of charge. The Primark established its code of conduct on the International Labour Organization's Code (ILO). This inimitable agreement facilitates the ILO to include 'real world' information regarding employment. The ILO code explains certain standards for international labor. It provides immense opportunities for people in vocations of liberty, impartiality, security and self-respect. The code of conduct of Primark is translated to 26 languages, all printed on its web, to guarantee understandable message on standards. The following principles from the code of conduct statement of the company. â€Å"The code states, 1. Employment is freely chosen. 2. Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are essential. 3. Working conditions are safe and hygienic. 4. Commitment with suppliers. 5. Child labour s hall not be used. 6. Living wages are paid. 7. Working hours are not excessive. 8. No discrimination is practiced. 9. Regular employment is provided. 10. No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed. 11. Legal requirements - Primark is committed to compliance of all countries laws† (Providing Consumers with Ethically Sourced Garments 1995 Pg 3) Primark functions strongly with market suppliers, and factories which manufacture goods. It offers guidance for suppliers, factory and its buyers, so that they