Speaking at the Human Resources Forum on board the Oriana, Kevin Bishop, group head of resourcing at international mining firm Anglo American, told delegates: "CSR is good business and comes from a good reputation. As a mining company we do not receive much publicity and are not known by prospective employees - that's why CSR is so important.
"Where is the employer brand if no one knows who you are? So we want to make a lasting contribution in the communities in which we operate to become a real employer of choice. We can't do that without CSR."
CSR projects currently undertaken by Anglo American include helping unemployed people in South Africa find jobs cleaning and bottling the excess water used in the mining process and, in countries suffering from the Aids epidemic, offering counselling, testing and treatment to employees, their dependants and their local communities.
Bishop added: "CSR is not philanthropy - it is the way we do business. The question arises as to whether CSR is about doing good or about making money. There are two sides to the coin. But we know well-paid, healthy workers are more productive."
He explained Anglo American often works in countries with weak governance and needs the support of local government to continue to mine and make a profit.
He concluded: "Social awareness and productivity are linked. Our work with Aids has created a strong and healthy talent pool from which we can draw. And we want to set an example to other employers because this is not just charity - it's a sound business strategy."
Corporate social responsibility is a sound business strategy, says Anglo American's head of resourcing
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) must not be a luxury employers adopt only in times of boom. It should also be used when the economy is in trouble to help employers do business better, a senior HR boss has warned.
