I welcome the recent announcement by Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd to increase benefits and incentives for its workers. It involves five new initiatives designed to increase workers’ take-home pay and other efforts to lessen the burden of inflation.

Furthermore, the firm encourages its workers to switch their cars from petrol to gas by offering loans with minimal interest.

Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop yesterday indicated that inflation may reach 7 percent in June and July due to the impact of the fuel price hike.

The burden of inflation falls largely on the most vulnerable communities in the country, namely workers, single mothers and the poor. Besides the increase in the cost of living, workers will be confronted with retrenchment and companies forcing them to accept lower wages.

The private sector - as a critical stakeholder in the country - needs to make every effort to lessen the burden of inflation on workers and vulnerable communities.

I urge businesses - local and foreign including government-linked companies - to follow Westports’ exemplary corporate social responsibility towards its workers, their families and the nation.

At the heart of corporate social responsibility is the continuing commitment by businesses to contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of their workers, their families and society at large.

Thus corporate social responsibility is about businesses giving back to society, especially their critical stakeholders.

Westports’ socially responsible policies are consistent with the various calls by the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC), the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

Also, I urge the human resources ministry to work together with the business community to promote the highest standards of corporate social responsibility and ensure that every effort is made to protect wages and jobs in these hard times.

The writer is DAP Klang member of parliament.