The Changzhou Municipal Government and Changzhou Federation of Trade Unions announced a new Corporate Social Responsibility Award for businesses that will be presented during the upcoming May 1 holiday.

The award has been created to encourage more enterprises in Changzhou to fulfill their social responsibilities to the community. The government says the fulfillment of social responsibility is not only necessary for building a harmonious society, but also an efficient way for enterprises to increase their share of the global market.

The Changzhou Federation of Trade Unions; the Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau of Changzhou; Changzhou Economy and Trade Commission; Changzhou Municipal Bureau of Labour and Social Security; Changzhou Administration of Work Security; and Changzhou Municipal Enterprise Confederation jointly established the criteria for a CSR Standard in Changzhou in June 2004. After two years of operation, more than 160 enterprises have applied for the standard's certificate, and 46 companies have been awarded the certificate. Some of those companies include Black Peony Group, Changzhou Highway Transportation Company and Changzhou Siyao Pharmaceutical Company.

Li Xiaobu, vice chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Federation of Trade Union, says that the establishment of regional standard for CSR in Changzhou has great significance and will be popularized across the province.

Interestingly, enterprises that win the CSR Award can be exempt for three years from the annual labor and safety checks which the government routinely performs.