Communication on Progress

Participant
Published
  • 25-Apr-2019
Time period
  • April 2018  –  April 2019
Format
  • Stand alone document – Basic COP Template
Differentiation Level
Self-assessment
  • Includes a CEO statement of continued support for the UN Global Compact and its ten principles
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Human Rights
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Labour
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Environment
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Anti-Corruption
  • Includes a measurement of outcomes
 
  • Statement of continued support by the Chief Executive Officer
  • Statement of the company's chief executive (CEO or equivalent) expressing continued support for the Global Compact and renewing the company's ongoing commitment to the initiative and its principles.

  • To our stakeholders:
    I am pleased to confirm that miraconsult e.U. reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption. In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We also commit to sharingthis information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

    Sincerely yours,
    Monika HIRSCHMUGL-FUCHS
    OWNER

Human Rights
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of human rights for the company (i.e. human rights risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on Human Rights.

  • • We declare our business ethics and our statement for support on our Website: https://www.miraconsult.at/ueber-miraconsult/

    • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is basis for working contracts and is brought to all employee’s knowledge. This applies too to new employees and trainees
    • We verify the compliance with Human rights in our supply chain by buying labelled products. We try to spread the positive example and the importance of the topic personally and via our Social Media channels.
    • We are cooperating with local and national organisations to propagate Agenda 2030 and SDG
    • In the upcoming year I aim to concentrate still and strengthen my work introducing Agenda 2030 and the SDG to municipalities and enterprises.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement Human Rights policies, address Human Rights risks and respond to Human Rights violations.

  • • I assure that my employees can work on safe and appropriate workplaces and have appropriate as sanitary equipment.
    • Our business culture is characterized by a friendly and appreciative cooperation. This is what I also expect and require from our partners and clients. Harassment and threats, whatsoever, are un-tolerated.
    • I pay attention that no damaged or dangerous to health devices are in use.
    • Being member of qualified organisations (e.g. respACT Austria or ARGE proEthik) and signing job-related codices and ethics directives (e.g. code of honour for consultants, ethics guidelines for mediators), I aim to show openly that strengthening of Human Rights are relevant for my work and all of my cooperation.
    • miraconsult e.U. supports local NGO (e.g. actually in Ghana, Uganda and Albania), who are developing independent and fair working and learning opportunities
    • miraconsult e.U. also tries to increase awareness for Human Rights and sustainable development being active in different organisations in our own social environment. To support the start of fair and environmentally friendly start-ups we run “Generation-Oekofair e.U”. (generation-oekofair.at). To strengthen the Rights of people with disabilities and a self determined life for ALL I am cooperating with work group Ecobility at Chamber of Commerce Styria and NGOs “Equicane” and “miraleben”
    • Asyl seeking people and people entitled to asylum, as well as others needing a new start after severe diseases or calamities are always welcome in our office.
    • We disseminate our engagement for Agenda 2030 and the SDG on our Website ( https://www.miraconsult.at/sdg-17/) and on Facebook (https://de-de.facebook.com/SDG17machmit)

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • As miraconsult is a very small enterprise, we do not evaluate our performance in Humans Rights engagement.
    But Human Rights, also expressed by Agenda 2030, are basis of all of our work and we try to give the relevant information and support to our clients, partners, employee and all stakeholder.
    I think, all of our written statements are expressing our Human Rights performance.

Labour
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of labour rights for the company (i.e. labour rights-related risks and opportunities). Description of written policies, public commitments and company goals on labour rights.

  • • miraconsult e.U. is a very small company. Sometimes I am working alone or with one employee, depending on individual needs with interns, for example to support their final degree or to be prepared for the entering the labour market. We cannot offer the opportunity for having a worker organisation, but we inform the employees and interns about their rights and motivate them to network outside of the company and to review the compliance with their rights.
    • As unionisation in the company is not possible, we offer awareness- and knowledge-building
    • We orient our working system on self-responsibility and demand-based structures considering labour rights and most possible right to choose for employees
    • Our goals for the next years are to remain a good employer respecting labour rights and health of (future) employees and to further implement these topics to my consultancy work.

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions taken by the company to implement labour policies, address labour risks and respond to labour violations.

  • • Employees and interns have the possibility to define their working hours independently and keep the records of their working time independently
    • To validate our contractual partners and suppliers we trust in the Fair Trade label. We share our knowledge with our Stakeholder.
    • In our local environment we are actively supporting the Fair Trade working group.
    • Appreciative equal-treatment of all people is an important part of our company culture, internal and working with our business and mediation clients.
    • Traditional role models are not relevant for hiring
    • Since June 2018 I am working alone. Before there was a female employee and the years before female and male people have been employed.
    • I like to give support and advice to people with reduced chances as long as they need this.
    • I like to support employees in developing new competences.
    • I actively inform our Stakeholder about accessibility at workplace and try to be a role model. We also try to end discrimination in our social environment.
    • The NGO “miraleben” aims to support people who are due to misfortune or diseases on the margin of society to find ways back to societal inclusion (www.miraleben.wordpress.com)
    • I try to explain and find solutions with employees, partners and all stakeholders according to SDG5, SDG8 SDG10 and SDG17

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • • Now I am working alone, but before there have been people with different gender, ethnicity or age in my company
    • I refuse to work for people, organisations or companies, if I know about incidents of violation of Global Compact Labour principles. But I offer information and help to stop this
    • I did not face investigations, legal cases, rulings, fines and other relevant events related to Global Compact Labour principles
    • My ways for periodic review are to prepare COP or re-certification paper, e.g. for CSR-Consultancy
    • During the last reporting period I supported asylum seeking people and people entitled to asylum and cooperate in a project to support women with flight experience to become employed and to stay sustainable in employment
    • I did not have external audits, due to the micro business

Environment
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of environmental protection for the company (i.e. environmental risks and opportunities). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on environmental protection.

  • • I have bound myself to a providing approach to tackle environmental problems. miraconsult e.U. is a “Klimabümdnisbetrieb” (climate alliance enterprise) and is member of “Wirtschaftsinitiative Nachhaltigkeit” (Business initiative for sustainability)
    • I pursue the principle of sustainable purchasing and seek to buy only environmentally friendly certified products
    • In my company I have the principle of going easy on resources, e.g. by implementing an office structure without paper waste, reusing and repairing devices and digital networking
    • In the upcoming year I am planning to develop different cooperation to strengthen natural diversification and biodiversity following SDG13, SDG14 and SDG15 with local and international partners

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement environmental policies, address environmental risks and respond to environmental incidents.

  • • Planning and conducting events we have stated sustainability criteria, such as using of local/regional, fair produced and traded and biological products, offering of share taxis or reusable materials.
    • Soft mobility is important. Therefore, we walk, bike or use the train and avoid air travels.
    • The Website is hosted climate neutral.
    • I inform on my website and on Social Media Channels about environmental topics, every day environmental protection and the sustainable development goals.
    • miraconsult offers services to strengthen responsible interaction with environment
    • We inform our clients and interested people about new developments and know-how.
    • We invite (potential) partners to cooperate in development cooperation.
    • We try to develop new ways to finance projects to develop and to distribute environmentally friendly technologies and support project submissions.
    • We inform about the relevant SDG for local and regional activities.

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates environmental performance.

  • • As far as possible I try to do my best to prevent environmental incidents due to personal or business activities. In the case of incidents or natural disaster I strongly cooperate with D.M.A.T. Consulting KG (www.dmat.at), specialised in disaster management.
    • We did not face investigations, legal cases, rulings, fines and other relevant events related to Global Compact environmental principles.
    • During the last reporting period I could to a lot of information work, especially on SDG13, SDG14 and SDG15 in my municipality and together with different national organisations
    • My ways for periodic review are to prepare COP or re-certification paper, e.g. for CSR-Consultancy or climate alliance
    • I did not have external audits, due to the micro business

Anti-Corruption
  • Assessment, policy and goals
  • Description of the relevance of anti-corruption for the company (i.e. anti-corruption risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on anti-corruption.

  • • I have signed the ethical principles of ARGE proETHIK at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce and I am a member of this organisation. I am member Of Global Compact too. This is how I committed myself against corruption and bribery

    • I do not have a new specific goal for the upcoming year, except to stay informed to be able to support in the context of my work

  • Implementation
  • Description of concrete actions to implement anti-corruption policies, address anti-corruption risks and respond to incidents.

  • • My former employees as well as all future employees become informed about their obligation to maintain secrecy as well as the potential threats of corruption and bribery. They have been/will be advised to inform me immediately.

    • I inform myself consistently on Legal Compliance topics

  • Measurement of outcomes
  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates anti-corruption performance.

  • • We did not face incidents of corruption, nor investigations, legal cases, fines and other relevant events related to corruption and bribery
    • We have no experience dealing with incidents of corruption, but we will refuse any attempt from outside.
    • Due to the micro business we did not have neither internal nor external audits.