BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS / Šturma, Mozetic (eds)

If on the one hand respecting human rights can be seen as a conservative approach thereof, on the other, promoting human rights is to be taken as its natural and necessary complement. Respecting and promoting human rights is a very sensitive matter. Though, it is not a sensitive issue only because of moral intents with human dignity and personal development. Realizing its connection with economic development, it should be recognized that such connection is also, and above all, a matter that deserves a very special economic consideration in current discussions regarding sustainable development, in particular where interests of non-developed and developing economies are concerned. Regarding such human right perspective, due diligent business programs shall embrace commitments with the generation of employment. 24 To some extent, part of business world operates as though anything, but marketplace could be carried out. One might argue that such a vision is old-fashioned. Not only United Nations along with International Labour Organization, but also Global Economic Forum (Davos) has been claiming for reshape the vision of economic progress solely market centered. During the 2018 meeting of World Economic Forum, members from various industries – food and beverage, healthcare, finance, professional services – that are [L]eaders in their respective sectors have signaled a need to act. Not only is rising inequality and social instability bad for business, but it has led to an erosion of the private sector’s “licence to operate” in society. In short, a deeply held corporate concern is that the current economic model is unsustainable. that decent work must be balanced with productivity aims. 25 It follows that investment and employments plans must be deemed as to combine one with another so that the use of technologies can generate employment, as much direct as indirectly. 26 This is of particular relevance within the context of countries “where discontinuation of operations is likely to accentuate the long-term unemployment”. 27 On the other hand, even though enterprises could operate with the view of generating employment, it is unlikely that innovations implemented so that to further competitiveness as well as productivity will not cause adverse impact on employment. It would be far better admitting that technological enhancements will cause more unemployment than create, notably within industrial field. Having said that, enterprises are not free to simply going forward with innovations and redundancies. Business world in a digital era is supposed to notice such challenging alterations, not only to authorities but also to representatives of workers, in order to mitigate adverse impacts on employment. 28 24 ILO, MNE Declaration, Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, 2017, p. 9. 25 A New Vision for Inclusive Growth and Development, available at: https://www.weforum.org/projects/ inclusive-growth-and-development, access in Jan 26th, 2018. 26 Idem. 27 ILO. MNE Declaration, Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, 2017, p. 9. 28 ILO, MNE Declaration, Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, 2017, p. 9.

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