Lithuania
II. Objectives and Measures
Objective 2. Promoting corporate responsibility and respect in the field of business and human rights [pages 7-8]
B. Government measures encouraging business enterprises to secure respect for human rights
1. National Responsible Business Award– annual initiative lunched and implemented by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour together with the UN Development Programme in Lithuania and social partners from 2007 to 2012. The award honours business enterprises that have distinguished themselves and made the most progress in the area of corporate social responsibility. Since 2013, the contest for the National Responsible Business Award has been organised by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour together with Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Environment, and social partners. On 6 November 2013, the National Responsible Business Award was given out for the sixth time. It is planned to organise the National Responsible Business Award ceremony each year from 2015 to 2017. An annual international conference for dissemination of corporate social responsibility experiences is also panned to be held during this period.
2. Competition of business initiatives on anticorruption. With regard to the fact that in 2003 on the initiative of the UN 9th of December was declared the International Anti-Corruption Day, in order to support anti-corruption initiatives each year the Ministry of Economy announces the competition of business initiatives on anti-corruption and subsequently awards the initiators for the most effective business initiatives on anti-corruption.
3. Promotion of sustainable investment. Sustainable investment is investment into business, education, science, cultural and social initiatives and (or) business, cultural and social infrastructure that is oriented towards sustainable development, improvement of education, studying and science environment, creative progress and change of work methods in order to promote entrepreneurship and implement projects related to innovation development and cultural heritage. Foreign investors that applied for EU Structural Funds (hereinafter referred to as EUSF) according to the instrument INVEST LT+ administered by the Ministry of Economy for the period 2007-2013 had the opportunity to receive increased EUSF support if they made sustainable investments.
B. Planned measures
1. Promotion of social and socially responsible business. The National Progress Programme 2014-2020 approved by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania by Resolution No 1482 of 28 November 2012 (hereinatler referred to as National Progress Programme) establishes priorities for the implementation of Lithuanian progress strategy ‘Lithuania 2030’. Lithuanian Progress Strategy ‘Lithuania 2030’ defines smart economy as able to compete in the world, generating high added value and based on knowledge, integrity and social responsibility. Task 3.3 ‘Implementation of sustainable development principals in businesses’ of the Lithuanian Progress Strategy goal 3 ‘Promotion of business productivity and sustainable development’ presents measures related to promotion of CSR and social businesses:
-to promote social and socially responsible business perceiving it as modern business practice;
-to promote social business by establishing a centre for competencies and good practice, accelerators, work environments for social business, mobility incentives and implementing other measures.
-The National Progress Strategy also introduces horizontal principals related to sustainable development, gender equality and non-discrimination.
-Lithuanian Entrepreneurship 2014-2020 Action Plan shall include actions related to the promotion of CSR, including the environment that enables to develop CSR, through cooperation with economic, social and international partners, as well as CSR initiatives.
2.Innovation promotion. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania by Resolution No 1281 of 18 December 2013 approved the Lithuanian Innovation Development Programme 2014- 2020 (hereinafter referred to as Innovation Programme). The Innovation Programme defines the concept of social innovation as an application of new ideas (goods, services, methods) in order to more effectively satisfy the social needs and (or) to create new social connections, partnerships and networks. Task 3 of the Innovation Programme goal 2 foresees the promotion of cooperation of different sectors in creating innovation and highly effective innovation development. Task 2 of the Innovation Programme goal 4 states the need for creation of measures promoting innovation demand that would contribute to the solution of social, economic and environmental challenges. Innovation programme foresees that:
-it is important to promote innovation in all sectors, to involve the society, and to implement and promote non-technological, social, organisational and other innovation, not only the ones based on research;
-cooperation of different sectors in creating and providing innovative services can contribute to the solution of social challenges;
-it is important to promote the creation and development of social innovation in order to provide more effectively services for families, children, socially vulnerable groups by employing the public, private and civil society sectors as well as the potential for cooperation with education institutions;
-an action plan for the implementation of this Innovation Programme is being prepared.