The General Confederation of Enterprises of Morocco (CGEM) launched the Responsible SME label on Tuesday in Casablanca, a new tool designed to support Moroccan small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their approach to social responsibility.
The launch of this label, which aims to recognize and enhance the commitment of SMEs while strengthening their strategic role in the national economy, was announced during the award ceremony for the CGEM’s CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Label.
Speaking on this occasion, the president of the CSR and Diversity Commission at CGEM, Saadia Slaoui Bennani, explained that this new label is based on the reality of Moroccan SMEs and aims to provide recognition suited to their size and level of maturity in terms of CSR.
This framework, she detailed, revolves around several fundamental pillars, namely employment, with an emphasis on respecting labor rights, professional equality and inclusion, ethics and transparency through the prevention of corruption, relationships with clients and consumers, with clear standards regarding service quality, supplier relationships including responsible payment terms and fair competition, and environmental preservation.
According to Ms. Slaoui Bennani, SMEs will now be able to apply, based on their level of CSR maturity, either for the historical label of CGEM or for this new Responsible SME Label, designed to encourage a gradual but ambitious transition to a sustainable business model.
She also announced the relaunch of the Club of labeled companies, which will act as a catalyst for concrete initiatives and a voice for companies that place responsibility at the heart of their strategy.
This ceremony was marked by the signing of a partnership agreement between CGEM and Maroc PME regarding the CSR label dedicated to SMEs.
For the General Director of Maroc PME, Anouar Alaoui Ismaili, this agreement represents a unique initiative in service of Moroccan enterprises.
It will allow the two institutions to pool their efforts to raise awareness among SMEs about the importance of such a label, while ensuring compliance with the necessary steps for its implementation, Mr. Alaoui Ismaili stated.
The said agreement, which marks a new stage in CGEM-Maroc PME cooperation in favor of promoting an accessible CSR culture adapted to the reality of Moroccan SMEs, also aims to offer companies, through joint programs, the opportunity to benefit from support in deploying the label, he added.
It should be noted that the CGEM CSR Label trophies were awarded to GPC paper and cardboard, Ansamble Morocco, Royal Air Maroc, EPEGA, CIMR, Wafa Assurance, the Higher School of Textile and Clothing Industries (ESITH), and Al Omrane Rabat-Salé-Kenitra.
The label was subsequently granted to four subsidiaries of Alsa, namely those in Khouribga, Agadir, Casablanca, and Tangier, Fromageries Bel Maroc, SOREC, SOMAS, AMENDIS, Label Vie, DXC Technology, Beverages of Morocco, REDAL, Vivo Energy Morocco, Wafa Salaf, Maroclear, as well as the companies Majorel (Call insurance, Morocco, and Outsourcing).
The granting of this CGEM CSR label recognizes and distinguishes the commitment of these companies to social responsibility in a comprehensive management approach and managerial strategy that takes into account their interests and the expectations of their various stakeholders.
This label, awarded for a period of three years, is granted by the Presidency of the Confederation based on the advice of the awarding committee following an evaluation conducted by one of the third-party experts accredited by CGEM.