Businesses are being urged to play their part in making a positive impact around social issues of housing, migration, diversity and inclusion and equality.
The Open Doors Initiative (ODI), the not-for-profit organisation creating pathways to education, employment and entrepreneurship for marginalised individuals, is calling on Irish business leaders to step up and play their part in delivering for a new era of corporate social justice.
The call was made at a leaders' summit in Dublin today which was held in partnership with jobs site Indeed.
Attendees heard how now more than ever, migration, housing pressures, climate change, diversity and inclusion, socio-economic and political challenges are affecting consumers, businesses, employees and the wider society.
The Irish Government is in the process of developing a second National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, which is intended to go some way to better guide businesses to understand their human rights responsibilities.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney addressed today's summit.
"Ireland is a beacon that shows the transformative power that business and open trade has had on society," Mr Coveney said.
"Business not only creates jobs, sustains communities, and fosters prosperity but also generates revenues that fuel our country's future and safeguard our most vulnerable citizens," he added.
Jeanne McDonagh, CEO of the Open Doors Initiative, called on business leaders and policymakers to do more around creating and delivering positive social impact.
"Corporate Social Justice goes beyond charity work to impact positively on the experiences of groups disadvantaged by, or worse, harmed by society," Ms McDonagh said.
"It is a way of working measured by the trust between a company and its employees, customers, shareholders, and the broader community it touches, with the goal of explicitly doing good by all of them," she added.
