Professional and Managerial Staff
FIET P&MS World Committee has decided to promote the following Code of Professional, Social and Ethical Responsibility for members of unions affiliated to FIET who work in a professional or managerial capacity. It represents the standards which it is reasonable to expect members to comply with when carrying out their duties within their special fields. FIET affiliates represent a very broad range of individuals who are employed as professionals or managers by corporate bodies operating in many countries of the world and who consequently find themselves working under different cultural, economic and social conditions, and under diverse laws, statutes and regulations which frequently interact or overlap.
Continual radical changes in economy, sciences and technologies play a key role in the working lives of professional and managerial staffs. Scientific and technological processes are exerting a greater influence on the work and lives of professional and managerial staff than at any other time in our history. The belief that technology can progressively solve the problems which it has often created for itself has to some extent been undermined. Professional and managerial staff are now often faced with scepticism and uncertainty created by the complexities and apparent inflexibility of technologies, where disagreement amongst experts on possible consequences sometimes calls the objectivity of scientific advance into question.
Because of the diversity of circumstances in which professional and managerial staff work around the globe it is not possible to reach immediately all the objectives set up by this Code. Though the focus of this code is directed towards the responsibilities of professionals and managers, it does not diminish those of other participants, such as employers, shareholders, governments, politicians and the general public.
This code does not set out to vary any contract of employment which may exist between an individual member of an affiliated union and the employer. Nor is it intended to do so. Nor is it a substitute for members' obligations to the individual rules of their trade unions affiliated to FIET.
Professional and Managerial Staff
In the pursuit of their professional activities, professional and managerial staff shall take into account not merely the scientific, technical and economic considerations, but also the social, environmental and ethical implications of their work. The responsibility of professional and managerial staff for the sustainable welfare of the community is an integral part of their professional responsibility.
Professional and managerial staff shall ensure that their activity contributes to an equitable distribution of world resources.
Professional and managerial staff shall take all steps to maintain sustainable systems of work and to avoid dangers which may cause death, injury or ill-health to any person. They shall also avoid damage to nature and goods by any act or omission as a consequence of the execution of their duties.
Professional and managerial staff shall take all steps to safeguard public interest in matters of health and safety.
Professional and managerial staff shall respect and defend human rights, including trade union rights, in particular by promoting international standards.
They shall have the right to be unionised and shall actively take part in the working community, in particular in unions, with their professional skills.
Article 4. Regulations and Standards
Professional and managerial staff shall familiarise themselves with the culture, economic and social background, laws and regulations appropriate to the country in which their work is being undertaken.
Article 5. Professional Integrity
Professional and managerial staff shall act in a manner which neither compromises nor impairs, nor is likely to compromise or impair, their professional integrity in the performance of their duties. In particular they shall take all steps to make business agreements clear and fair, including the social clauses.
Professional and managerial staff shall uphold equity and dignity and conduct their affairs faithfully.
Article 6. Industrial Democracy
Professional and managerial staff shall support the democratic process in industry, in particular collective bargaining and the establishment of arrangements for participation by employees in companies and in the workplace.
They shall seek to ensure that those affected by organisational change, or by the introduction of new technologies, are adequately consulted about the implementation of the changes and systems and their effect on working conditions.
Article 7. Data Protection and Privacy
Professional and managerial staff shall ensure that protection of personal data and privacy is effective, in particular by observing relevant national or international laws and regulations.
Article 8. Information and Training
Professional and managerial staff shall take steps both to maintain and develop their professional competence and knowledge within their special fields and to keep abreast of developments in economic, scientific, technical, social or other related disciplines relevant to their field of professional activity.
Professional and managerial staff shall take steps to further the information education and training facilities of their subordinates and to encourage their employers to allow appropriate facilities for their staff so that they can participate in continuing professional development courses and seminars.
Professional and managerial staff shall familiarise themselves with the systems applications in the workplace and display an understanding of their implications for employees and a willingness and understanding to respect the needs and interests of all interested parties.
Professional and managerial staff shall not disclose or authorise the disclosure of information covered by " professional secret ", which has been acquired by them in the course of their professional activities and which is not already in the public domain, without prior written consent for disclosure.
Professional and managerial staff shall, however, make information public where disclosure is in the public interest.
Those who inform the public in accordance with previous articles, or refuse to work on projects which violate previous articles, shall be protected from dismissal and shall nor incur other disadvantages in the work place.
Trade unions affiliated to FIET with professional and managerial staff in their membership shall distribute this code to their members and promote professional, social and ethical responsibility at the workplace.
Trade unions shall encourage the professional, social and ethical responsibility of professional and managerial staff and protect their members in case of conflicts by means of legal advice and support and through collective agreements.
Trade unions shall report back to the FIET P&MS World Committee their experience of good practice and conflicts concerning the professional, social and ethical responsibility of professional and managerial staff.
Article 14. Interdisciplinary dialogue
FIET will use its good offices to facilitate discussion between individuals of different disciplines and specialisations and to ensure dialogue takes place on topics selected by the FIET P&MS World Committee. A record of the discussions will be made public from time to time.
The FIET P&MS World Committee will organise procedures for the discussion and implementation of this code at regional and at world level.
The FIET P&MS World Committee will establish a library of experiences of good practice or conflicts concerning the professional, social and ethical responsibility of professional and managerial staff.
The FIET P&MS World Committee will act with relevant organisations and institutions to promote the contents of this code and to ensure respect for it.
The FIET P&MS World Committee is committed to a periodical review of the effectiveness and relevance of its code of professional, social and ethical responsibility.
FIET's home page: http://www.fiet.org
Globalization and Workers' Rights |
|
HOME |
International
Labour Office |