site.btaBusinesses Prioritized Human Rights, Labour Standards in 2024 - Analysis

The first global analysis of corporate sustainability based on data from the UN Global Compact's 2024 Communication on Progress (CoP) outlines the key priorities of businesses around the world. The analysis published on Wednesday suggests that those priorities include human rights and labour standards.

The report covers 10,984 companies from 149 countries, including Bulgaria, and presents the largest-ever picture of corporate sustainability worldwide. CoP is the annual sustainability reporting format that companies participating in the UN Global Compact complete to demonstrate their progress against the Ten Principles of the Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals. Nearly 54% of the companies are small or medium-sized enterprises.

Corporate Sustainability in Bulgaria

Safe and healthy working conditions are a top priority for 95% of companies in Bulgaria. Another 90% are committed to improving working conditions overall – above the regional average. Gender equality is a focus for 76% of businesses, putting Bulgaria on par with the European average.

In the area of ​​anti-corruption policies, 76% of Bulgarian companies have compliance programmes, and nearly half participate in collective anti-corruption initiatives. These results reflect a desire for a more transparent and sustainable business environment.

Key topics in global corporate sustainability

In terms of human rights, companies are most often working on gender equality (78%) and digital security (84%). In the area of ​​labour rights, the greatest attention is paid to a safe and healthy working environment (87%) and the fight against discrimination (83%).

In the area of ​​ecology, 71% of companies implement measures for efficient use of energy and resources. In terms of the fight against corruption, 70% develop and implement anti-corruption compliance programmes.