Skip to main content

2020 | OriginalPaper | Buchkapitel

3. Proposing CSR Provisions in Kuwaiti Legal Vision: A Middle-Ground Between UK and Indian Companies Law

verfasst von : Asma Alfouzan

Erschienen in: Governance and Sustainability

Verlag: Springer Singapore

Aktivieren Sie unsere intelligente Suche, um passende Fachinhalte oder Patente zu finden.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

CSR concepts encourage the identification of specific core CSR categories. Such categories include ethical, legal, economic and environmental responsibilities and obligations. The Indian and UK contexts exemplify a variety of CSR-related legislative provisions enacted to underscore the importance of a company’s stakeholder obligations and responsibilities that extend beyond its corporate constituencies. However, the current CSR jurisprudence is carefully evaluated in Kuwaiti company law given the lack of CSR-related legislative provisions in the country. There is a need to explore and analyse these areas in different contexts, such as CSR in UK and Indian company laws, to form the basis of potential CSR provisions and legal vision for Kuwaiti company law. This chapter examines the CSR-related provisions in Kuwaiti company law. The chapter starts with a discussion of CSR practices and CSR in relation to the relevant provisions of Kuwaiti company law and corporate governance, including board of directors, CSR reporting and information disclosure, corporate constituencies, directors’ duties and corporate objectives. The visions of CSR in the UK and Indian Companies Act and Kuwait are discussed and compared throughout the chapter in order to determine a middle ground for Kuwait with respect to adopting more socially responsible principles.

Sie haben noch keine Lizenz? Dann Informieren Sie sich jetzt über unsere Produkte:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe




 

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Fußnoten
1
F. Al-Nakib, Kuwait Transformed: A History of Oil and Urban Life (Stanford University Press 2016) (2016), 296.
 
2
ProMedia International Co, ‘Kuwait CSR Conference & Exhibition’ (2016): Available: https://​www.​nuwait.​net.​kw/​events/​kuwait-csr-conference-exhibition: Accessed 17th March 2019.
 
3
Ibid.
 
4
Ibid.
 
5
Ibid.
 
6
Dima Jamali and Walaa El Safadi, “Adaptations of CSR in the Context of Globalization” in Globalization (IntechOpen 2019) (2019), n.p.
 
7
Trading Economics, “Kuwait—Number of listed companies per 1,000,000 people” (2019). Available: https://​tradingeconomics​.​com/​kuwait/​number-of-listed-companies-per-1000000-people-wb-data.​html: Accessed 9th April 2019.
 
8
IPR, ‘Business Forms and Structures’ (1999). Available: http://​www.​infoprod.​co.​il/​country/​kuwait2b.​htm: Accessed 10th Feb 2019.
 
9
D. Ronnegard, ‘CSR in the Gulf region: corporate philanthropy likely to remain key for now’ (2009): Available: https://​knowledge.​insead.​edu/​csr/​csr-in-the-gulf-region-2233: Accessed 11th Feb 2019.
 
10
Tareq Emtairah, Asya Al-Ashaikh, and Abdulmohsen Al-Badr. “Contexts and corporate social responsibility: the case of Saudi Arabia.” International Journal of Sustainable Society 1.4 (2009): 325–346.
 
11
Herman Aguinis, Organizational responsibility: Doing good and doing well (Chap. 24) (2011), 855.
 
12
BBC, ‘Zakat: charity’ (2009): Available: http://​www.​bbc.​co.​uk/​religion/​religions/​islam/​practices/​zakat.​shtml: Accessed 1st April 2019.
 
13
Zakat Tax Law No. 46, 2006 A.1.
 
14
RSM, ‘Zakat Law and Practices’ (2019): Available: https://​www.​rsm.​global/​kuwait/​service/​zakat-law-and-practices: Accessed 1st April 2019.
 
15
Zakat Tax Law No. 46 2006 A.2.
 
16
Zakat Tax Law No. 46 2006 A.3.
 
17
Zakat Tax Law No. 46 2006 A.1.
 
18
Indian Companies Act 2016, S.135.
 
19
Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. Corporate Social Responsibility—Less Carrot More Stick (2019): Available https://​www.​lexology.​com/​library/​detail.​aspx?​g=​1321ef7c-bc8a-47a6-8eeb-8c0fb141d75f: Accessed: 20th August 2019.
 
20
Kordant Philathropy Advisors Report, ‘The 2% CSR Clause: New Requirements for Companies in India’ (2013): Available: https://​www.​issuelab.​org/​resource/​the-2-csr-clause-new-requirements-for-companies-in-india.​html: Accessed 26th June 2019.
 
21
India Companies Act 2013, S.135.
 
22
C. Walker, ‘UK companies are failing to support charities (2014): Available: https://​www.​theguardian.​com/​sustainable-business/​uk-companies-failing-support-charities: Accessed 17th March 2019.
 
23
Emtairah, Al-Ashaikh and Al-Badr (n 865) 325.
 
24
Ibid.
 
25
Nisar Ahamad Nalband and Mohammed S. Al-Amri. “Corporate social responsibility: Perception, practices and performance of listed companies of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal 23.3 (2013), 284–295.
 
26
Yaprak Anadol, Mohamed A. Youssef, and Eappen Thiruvattal. “Consumer reaction towards corporate social responsibility in United Arab Emirates.” Social Responsibility Journal 11.1 (2015), 19–35.
 
27
Mahammed Al-Ajmie, Abdullah Al-Mutairi, and Nabi Al-Duwaila. “Corporate social disclosure practices in Kuwait.” International Journal of Economics and Finance 7.9 (2015), 244–254.
 
28
H Abaza, N Saab and B Zeitoon, editors (2011). Arab forum for environment and development. In: Arab Environment: Green Economy: Sustainable Transition in a Changing Arab World. Beirut: Technical Publications and Environment & Development magazine, n.p.
 
29
Zakat Tax Law No. 46 2006, A.1.
 
30
International Labour Organization (ILO). (2013). The Kuwaiti labour market and foreign workers: understanding the past and present to provide a way forward. Available: http://​www.​ilo.​org/​wcmsp5/​groups/​public/​@arabstates/​@ro-beirut/​documents/​meetingdocument/​wcms_​330314.​pdf. Accessed: 17th March 2019.
 
31
Gulf Labour Markets and Migration. (2013). the demographic and economic framework of migration in Kuwait. Available: from http://​cadmus.​eui.​eu/​bitstream/​handle/​1814/​32155/​GLMM%20​ExpNote_​01-2013.​pdf?​sequence=​1: Accessed: 31st March 2019.
 
32
Murya Habbash. “Corporate governance and corporate social responsibility disclosure: evidence from Saudi Arabia.” Social Responsibility Journal 12.4 (2016), 740–754.
 
33
Qura’n: Surah al baqarah (2:215).
 
34
KPMG, MESA Tax Guide (2018), 20.
 
35
Ibid.
 
36
Trading Economics, ‘Kuwait Government Spending’ (2019): Available: https://​tradingeconomics​.​com/​kuwait/​government-spending@ Accessed: 18th March 2019.
 
37
S Dawood, ‘Spring statement 2019: how does it impact designers?’ (2019): Available: https://​www.​designweek.​co.​uk/​issues/​11-17-march-2019/​spring-statement-2019-how-it-impacts-designers/​: Accessed: 18th March 2019.
 
38
S O'Grady, ‘India's 2018 budget aims to lift millions of rural farmers and workers out of poverty’ (2018) https://​www.​independent.​co.​uk/​news/​business/​news/​india-budget-2018-poverty-economy-help-farmers-bjp-arun-jaitley-trade-modi-china-a8189226.​html accessed 18th March 2019.
 
39
Mahammed Al-Ajmie, Abdullah Al-Mutairi, and Nabi Al-Duwaila. “Corporate social disclosure practices in Kuwait.” International Journal of Economics and Finance 7.9 (2015), 244–254.
 
40
Ibid.
 
41
A Qassem, “Additions and amendments to income tax” (2017): Available: http://​www.​alraimedia.​com/​Home/​Details?​id=​f6ce7ece-4f03-44c1-a69b-a8d64e9f4d3e: Accessed 17th March 2019.
 
42
A Aly Khedr, “Kuwait’s Legal System and Legal Research” (2010): Available: http://​www.​nyulawglobal.​org/​globalex/​Kuwait.​html: Accessed 7th Dec 2018.
 
43
Husam-Aldin N. Al-Malkawi, Rekha Pillai, and M. I. Bhatti. “Corporate governance practices in emerging markets: The case of GCC countries.” Economic Modelling 38 (2014), 133–141.
 
44
J. Solomon, Corporate Governance and Accountability (4th edn Wiley 2013), 386.
 
45
Al-Malkawi, Pillai and Bhatti (n 44), 133–141.
 
46
Ibid.
 
47
Benedicte Millet‐Reyes and Ronald Zhao. “A comparison between one‐tier and two‐tier board structures in France.” Journal of International Financial Management & Accounting 21.3 (2010): 279–310.
 
48
Ibid.
 
49
Kuwait Companies Law, 2016, A.186.
 
50
Kuwait Companies Law, 2016, A.181.
 
51
Kuwait Companies Law, 2016, A.181.
 
52
Kuwait Companies Law 2016, 2016, A.187.
 
53
Kuwait Companies Law, 2016, A. 193 S.3.
 
54
Atom Content Marketing Ltd, “Directors’ responsibilities” (2018): Available: https://​www.​business.​hsbc.​uk/​en-gb/​gb/​article/​directors-responsibilities​: Accessed 17th March 2019.
 
55
Parekh Hemang and others, “Corporate governance and directors' duties in India: overview” (2018): Available: https://​uk.​practicallaw.​thomsonreuters.​com/​0-506-6482?​transitionType=​Default&​contextData=​(sc.​Default)&​firstPage=​true&​comp=​pluk&​bhcp=​1: Accessed: 17th March 2019.
 
56
Ibid.
 
57
Carsten Jungmann. “The effectiveness of corporate governance in one-tier and two-tier board systems–Evidence from the UK and Germany–.” European Company and Financial Law Review 3.4 (2006): 426–474.
 
58
A Belcher. The unitary board: fact or fiction? Corporate Ownership & Control, 1(1), (2003), 139.
 
59
Markaz, ‘Kuwait Financial Centre “Markaz”: Corporate Social and Economic Responsibility Report’ (2015): Available: https://​www.​markaz.​com/​getmedia/​391a1b9d-e058-4378-baae-6a109afa41f9/​CSER-Pillars-Report-ENGLISH.​pdf.​aspx: Accessed: 10th March 2019.
 
60
David L Owen. “Recent developments in European social and environmental reporting and auditing practice: a critical evaluation and tentative prognosis.” (2003), 32.
 
61
Ibid.
 
62
Ibid.
 
63
Yvo de Boyer and others. “The KPMG survey of corporate responsibility reporting 2013.” (KPMG International 2013), 82.
 
64
Ibid.
 
65
Michael Hopkins, The planetary bargain: Corporate social responsibility matters (Routledge 2012), 12.
 
66
Urša Golob and Jennifer L. Bartlett. “Communicating about corporate social responsibility: A comparative study of CSR reporting in Australia and Slovenia.” Public Relations Review 33.1 (2007): 1–9.
 
67
KPMG, ‘Carrots Sticks: Global trends in sustainability reporting regulation and policy’ (2016): Available: https://​www.​globalreporting.​org/​resourcelibrary/​Carrots%20​and%20​Sticks-2016.​pdf: Accessed 9th April 2019.
 
68
Kuwait Companies Law 2016, A.177-180.
 
69
KPMG (n 67), 13.
 
70
Sateesh Gouda, A. G. Khan, and S. L. Hiremath. Corporate Social Responsibility in India. Trends, Issues and Strategies. Anchor Academic Publishing, (2017), 141–161.
 
71
Ibid.
 
72
David Williamson and Gary Lynch-Wood. “Social and environmental reporting in UK company law and the issue of legitimacy.” Corporate Governance: The international journal of business in society 8.2 (2008), 128–140.
 
73
Ezekiel A.Chinyio and Akintola Akintoye. “Practical approaches for engaging stakeholders: findings from the UK.” Construction Management and Economics 26.6 (2008), 591–599.
 
74
UK Companies Act 2006, S. 481 (2) and S. 496.
 
75
Nick Gibbon, Giles Peel, Clive Garston and Bridget Salaman, DAC Beachcroft LLP. Corporate governance and directors' duties in the UK (England and Wales): overview, (2018): Available: https://​uk.​practicallaw.​thomsonreuters.​com/​3-597-4626?​transitionType=​Default&​contextData=​(sc.​Default)&​firstPage=​true&​bhcp=​1: Accessed: 22nd August 2019.
 
76
UK Companies Act 2006 S.172.
 
77
Veerma Puri, and Manoj Kumar. “Factors influencing adoption and disclosure of voluntary corporate governance practices by the Indian listed firms.” International Journal of Corporate Governance 9.1 (2018): 91–126.
 
78
Gordon L. Clark, and Eric RW Knight. “Institutional investors, the political economy of corporate disclosure, and the market for corporate environmental and social responsibility: Implications from the UK Companies Act (2006).” 2008 Industry Studies Conference Paper, 1–44.
 
79
India Companies Act 2013 S.135.
 
80
Kordant Philathropy Advisors Report, ‘The 2% CSR Clause: New Requirements for Companies in India’ (2013): Available: https://​www.​issuelab.​org/​resource/​the-2-csr-clause-new-requirements-for-companies-in-india.​html: Accessed 26th June 2019.
 
81
UK Companies Act 2006 S.172.
 
82
Indian Companies Act 2013 S.135.
 
83
Bernard S. Black. “Agents watching agents: The promise of institutional investor voice.” UClA l. reV. 39 (1991), 811.
 
84
Kuwaiti Companies Law 2016, A.32.
 
85
OECD Corporate Governance Principles (2015), 20–21.
 
86
OECD Corporate Governance Principles (2015), 20–21.
 
87
Zakat Tax Law No.46 2006, A.1.
 
88
Indian Companies Act 2013, S.135.
 
89
UK Companies Act 2006 S.168.
 
90
Kuwait Companies Law 2016, A.127.
 
91
Kuwait Companies Law 2016, A.152.
 
92
World Atlas, “The Richest And Poorest Economies In The Middle East” (2017): Available: https://​www.​worldatlas.​com/​articles/​the-richest-and-poorest-economies-in-the-middle-east.​html: Accessed 11th Feb 2019.
 
93
USA International Business Publications, Kuwait Business Law Handbook: Strategic Information and Laws (International Business Publications USA 2013), 300.
 
94
UK Companies Act 2006 (c.46).
 
95
Ibid.
 
96
Kuwait Companies Law 2016, A.212.
 
97
Kuwait Companies Law 2016, A.304(1).
 
98
Kuwait Companies Law 2016, A.208.
 
99
Ibid.
 
100
David L. Kang, and Aage B. Sørensen. “Ownership organization and firm performance.” Annual review of sociology 25.1 (1999), 121–144.
 
101
Ibid.
 
102
C. Mallin, Corporate Governance (6th edn, OUP 2018), 384.
 
103
La Porta Rafael and others, “Law and finance” 106 Journal of political economy 1113 (1998), 1113–1155.
 
104
Morck, Randall, and Bernard Yeung. “Agency problems in large family business groups.” Entrepreneurship theory and practice 27.4 (2003), 367–382.
 
105
Dianne HB Welsh, and Peter Raven. “Family business in the Middle east: An exploratory study of retail management in Kuwait and Lebanon.” Family Business Review 19.1 (2006), 29–48.
 
106
SK Peter, “Kuwaiti family business at key transitional stage” (2014): Available: http://​news.​kuwaittimes.​net/​kuwaiti-family-business-key-transitional-stage/​: Accessed 17th March 2019.
 
107
O Gulseven, “Challenges to Employing Kuwaitis in the Private Sector” (2015): Available: https://​www.​oxgaps.​org/​files/​analysis_​gulseven.​pdf: Accessed 5th April 2019.
 
108
GCC-Legal, “The State of Kuwait Law No. 19 of 2000 Concerning Supporting National Labor and Encouraging it to Work in Non-Governmental Organizations (19/2000)” (2000): Available: http://​gcc-legal.​org/​LawAsPDF.​aspx?​opt&​country=​1&​LawID=​1044#Section_​1936: Accessed 5th April 2019.
 
109
SK Peter, “Kuwaiti family business at key transitional stage” (2014): Available: http://​news.​kuwaittimes.​net/​kuwaiti-family-business-key-transitional-stage/​: Accessed 17th March 2019.
 
110
Ibid.
 
111
Joseph McCahery, et al., eds. Corporate governance regimes: convergence and diversity. Oxford University Press on Demand, (2002), 696.
 
112
Shaun J Mathew. “Hostile Takeovers in India: New Prospects, Challenges, and Regulatory Opportunities.” Colum. Bus. L. Rev. (2007), 800.
 
113
2019 Index of Economic Freedom. Kuwait (2019): Available: https://​www.​heritage.​org/​index/​country/​kuwait: Accessed 22nd August 2019.
 
114
KPMG, GCC Family Business Survey 2017 (2018), 18.
 
115
Neal Watson and Beliz McKenzie, Smith LLP Travers. Shareholders' rights in private and public companies in the UK (England and Wales): overview (2019): Available: https://​uk.​practicallaw.​thomsonreuters.​com/​5-613-3685?​transitionType=​Default&​contextData=​(sc.​Default)&​firstPage=​true&​bhcp=​1: Accessed 22nd August 2019.
 
116
Lucian Arye Bebchuk, “The case for increasing shareholder power” Harvard Law Review, (2004), 833.
 
117
KPMG, (n 114), 18.
 
118
USA International Business Publications, Kuwait Business Law Handbook: Strategic Information and Laws (International Business Publications 2013), 300.
 
119
Kuwaiti Companies Law 2016, A.177.
 
120
International Business Publications, Kuwait Business Law Handbook: Strategic Information and Laws (International Business Publication 2013), 300.
 
121
Kuwaiti Companies Law (1960), 133(4).
 
122
Kuwaiti Companies Law 2016, A.220.
 
123
Kuwaiti Companies Law 2016, A.212.
 
124
Carsten Gerner-Beuerle, Philipp Paech, and Edmund-Philipp Schuster. “Study on directors’ duties and liability.” (2013), 64.
 
126
Yuwa Wei. “Directors’ Duties under Chinese Law: A Comparative Review.” (2008), 26.
 
127
Nadelle Grossman. “Director Compliance with Elusive Fiduciary Duties in a Climate of Corporate Governance Reform.” Fordham J. Corp. & Fin. L. 12 (2007), 393.
 
128
Carsten Gerner-Beuerle, Philipp Paech, and Edmund-Philipp Schuster. “Study on directors’ duties and liability.” (2013), 64.
 
129
Dr Rajesh Kumar Agrawal. “A Comparative Study of UK Companies Act, 2006 and Indian Companies Act, 2013.” International Education & Research Journal [IERJ], Research Paper E-ISSN 2454-9916 (2015), 33.
 
130
Aberdeen Rlwy. Co. v Blaikie Bros. (1854) 1 Macq. 461 at p. 471 In A. Hudson, Understanding Company Law (Taylor & Francis 2017).
 
131
T. O'Regan and R. Zayat, “Kuwait introduces new Agency Law: franchisors take note” (2016): Available: https://​www.​dlapiper.​com/​en/​us/​insights/​publications/​2016/​04/​kuwait-introduces-new-agency-law/​: Accessed 1st April 2019.
 
132
Lu'ayy Minwer Al-Rimawi. “Emerging markets of the Middle East: A critique of selected issues in Arab securities regulation.” Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance 7.2 (1999), 149-176.
 
133
R.I. Tricker and R.I. Tricker, Corporate Governance: Principles, Policies, and Practices (Oxford University Press 2015) (2015), 431.
 
134
Angualia Daniel. “Balance of Power between Shareholders and the Board in Corporate Governance.” (2010), 28.
 
135
Dima Jamali and Walaa El Safadi, ‘Adaptations of CSR in the Context of Globalization’ in Globalization (IntechOpen 2019) (2019), n.p.
 
136
India Companies Act 2015 s.135.
 
137
Gouda, Khan and Hiremath (n 70), 141–161.
 
138
Andrew Johnston, “The shrinking scope of CSR in UK corporate law” 74 Wash & Lee L Rev (2017), 1036.
 
139
UK Companies Act 2006, S.172(1).
 
140
Remus D. Valsan, and Moin A. Yahya. “Shareholders, creditors, and directors' fiduciary duties: A law and finance approach.” Va. L. & Bus. Rev. 2 (2007), 1.
 
141
Thomas Lee Hazen. “Silencing the Shareholders' Voice.” NCL Rev. 80 (2001): 1897.
 
142
Kuwaiti Companies Law 2016, A.246(1–5).
 
143
Markaz, “Kuwait Financial Centre ‘Markaz’: Corporate Social and Economic Responsibility Report” (2015): Available: https://​www.​markaz.​com/​getmedia/​391a1b9d-e058-4378-baae-6a109afa41f9/​CSER-Pillars-Report-ENGLISH.​pdf.​aspx: Accessed: 10th March 2019.
 
144
Ibid.
 
145
Ibid.
 
146
Kuwaiti Companies Law 2016 A.224.
 
147
KPMG, GCC Family Business Survey 2017, 18.
 
148
Ibid.
 
150
Ibid.
 
151
Ibid.
 
152
Kuwait oil Gulf Company. The success journey of oil pits remediation in WJO Area. (2017). Available: https://​www.​kgoc.​com/​news6.​html. Accessed: 3rd Sept 2019; Shell. Towards a lower-carbon world. (2019). Available: https://​www.​shell.​com.​kw/​en_​kw/​sustainability/​environment.​html. Accessed: 3rd Sept 2019.
 
153
P. Hohnen and J. Potts, Corporate Social Responsibility: An Implementation Guide for Business (2007), 4–5.
 
Metadaten
Titel
Proposing CSR Provisions in Kuwaiti Legal Vision: A Middle-Ground Between UK and Indian Companies Law
verfasst von
Asma Alfouzan
Copyright-Jahr
2020
Verlag
Springer Singapore
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6370-6_3