CIMA, ILO sign MoU on Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises Program

Friday, 17 April 2015 05:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

CIMA Sri Lanka launched a comprehensive partnership agreement with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) on 31 March. This agreement marks the start of the Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) short program. CIMA Sri Lanka brings its ‘Global Principles on Accounting and Management’ to the program to add value to the participating enterprises. Through this partnership, CIMA Sri Lanka aims to sharpen the inbuilt skillset of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector of the country, encourage more focus and improve the processes, so that the cost of production is reduced, improving margins while remaining competitive. SCORE is a modular training program that focuses on developing cooperative relations at the workplace. The five SCORE modules cover workplace cooperation, quality management, clean production, human resource management, and occupational health and safety. Each of the modules includes a joint, two-day classroom training for managers and workers and follow-up visits by experts to the participating enterprises.

SCORE short program is a condensed version of the standard program incorporating the key topics and tools from the five modules that ensure a more cost and time effective model that seeks to generate quicker overall results that are sustainable. The implementation methodology is based on a common platform as per the standard program. An online call for applications had been made and a total of 10 trainers will be trained on SCORE SP during the next few months. Of these trainers, those who meet the global standards of ILO SCORE will be certified as Lead Trainers. This initiative will help build a pool of SCORE certified resource persons who could take forward the program. Five enterprises will be selected for the practical implementation of this program. MESANA CIMA Regional Director Bradley Emerson commented, “The Sri Lankan economy, like all developing economies, has nearly 75% of its contribution from the SME sector. While this sector is driven by individuals who have true commitment to pursue their convictions; risk and financial management, and process costing, receive lesser attention. The sector also tends to adopt a short term view. Keeping with CIMA’s vision of helping people and businesses to succeed, this partnership with ILO and EFC is aimed at sharpening the business management skills of Sri Lanka’s SME sector.”

ILO SCORE Global Expert Trainer/Consultant Jayantha de Silva emphasised that the rationale of the program is that good working conditions (i.e. health and safety, good labour relations and sound human resource practices) lead to greater productivity. SCORE supports the respect for worker rights, efficient use of available equipment and technology and the development of a skilled workforce. ILO Country Director Donglin Li said that the ILO greatly values the enthusiasm and commitment that CIMA and EFC have shown in coming forward to take this program to scale. “We see it as a great example of a strategic partnership for the benefit of the country. The programme has demonstrated a win-win situation for both workers and employers,” he added. EFC Director General Ravi Peiris noted, “Workplace cooperation is the essence of a sustainable enterprise. We are very happy that the ILO has taken a broad view of cooperation. SCORE is significant to us at EFC in the context of the new employer branding – Compliance plus – of the EFC.” The event was held in the CIMA auditorium with the additional participation of the Secretary Ministry of Labour Upali Wijayaweera, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Nidhas Sevaka Sangamaya Leslie Devendra and Economic Officer of the Embassy of the United States Peter Zirnite.