The business world reveals vision skills that are sometimes not so widespread in other social sectors. The two days of the sixth edition of the Italian Business & SDGs Annual Forum took place in Bari. It was promoted by the UN Global Compact Network Italy, an organization founded in June 2013, which is part of the United Nations Global Compact. The latter “encourages companies from all over the world to create an economic, social and environmental framework capable of promoting a healthy and sustainable world economy”. The UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development is divided into 17 objectives, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Ipsos report
At the forum Nando Pagnoncelli, CEO of Ipsos, presented the research «Difficulties and opportunities for the inclusion of foreigners in the company». The survey involved 182 companies with 250 or more employees and at least one foreign worker. The surveys were made between 8 and 25 June last on companies in all sectors: financial, trade, construction, manufacturing and agriculture, 78% located in the North. “More than 72% of companies have at least one foreign employee who arrived in Italy for reasons related to choices not forced by economic necessity or personal safety” reads the report’s conclusions. And in these cases “the opportunities turn out to be substantially greater.”
Opportunity more than difficulties
Nobody hides the potential problems related to the insertion of foreigners into the world of work. But the Ipsos research underlines that “more than 70% of companies consider the opportunities greater than the difficulties of integrating foreigners”. From the interviews carried out largely with the human resources managers of the companies it emerges that on the involvement of foreign workers, in the balance between difficulties and opportunities, the item “more opportunities” reaches 75% of the interviewees (15% “more difficulties” and 10 % “I do not know”). Out of 182 companies, 55 – the highest number – note that there is an “improvement in productivity” in the case of political refugees or asylum seekers. And if there are foreigners who arrived for “not forced” choices, 63 companies consider them an opportunity to “recruit and maintain a diversified workforce”, 59 to “reduce discrimination and harassment” and just as many to “increase the propensity for innovation” .
Innovation and inclusion to be supported
In the sample of companies surveyed, there are 31 adhering to the UN principles of the Global Compact: they show themselves to be more committed to inclusion, more self-critical and more aware of development opportunities. The Bari forum highlighted innovative and enlightened companies such as the Apulian Andriani Spa, innovation food sector, which works in the European and American market. The secretary general of Global Compact Network Italy Daniela Bernacchi observes: according to Istat data «The majority of regular foreign workers are mainly employed in the less skilled professions, although 12% of migrants are university graduates. It is necessary to eliminate – underlines Bernacchi – all forms of forced and compulsory labor, starting from that of minors, and all discrimination in matters of employment and profession ».
The challenge of the Global Compact in Italy
Marco Frey, president of the Global Compact Italy notes: “We are fully committed to the principle of decent work: a fundamental human right, an essential requirement for a prosperous and sustainable future starting from local economies”. A boundless bet. It should be noted the portfolio of Italian companies, many holding companies and multinationals, founders and supporters of the Global Compact Network Italy. There are A2A, Abi, Acea, Generali, Atlantia, Bnl, Edison, Enel, Fincantieri, the Eni Enrico Mattei Foundation, Hera, IntesaSanPaolo, Leonardo. And again MaireTecnimont, Mediobanca, Pirelli, Simens, Snam, Telecom, Terna, Unicredit, Webuild. A list of 79 leading companies for the Italian economic system, together with some prestigious Italian universities. And the broader network of companies that adhere to the Global Compact Italy is getting bigger and bigger.