As an active member of International Labor Organization (ILO) Global Business and Disability Network China Chapter (GBDN China), AccorHotels is proud to announce that Grace Xiang, Vice President, Talent and Culture, AccorHotels Greater China has been elected as the Chairperson for GBDN China at its recent plenary meeting held in the end of September 2018.
A specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), ILO was found in 1919 and established the ILO Global Business and Disability Network in 2010. The GBDN gives companies, national employers’ organizations and business networks an opportunity to promote and create an inclusive work environment for people with disabilities. Currently, there are 27 active business unit members, 8 supporting non-business unit members and 30 national business and disability networks participating in the ILO Global Business and Disability Network across the globe.
The China Chapter was launched in July 2018 and is made up of five Chinese private enterprises and eleven multi-national corporations that include AccorHotels, Airbus, AnBang Pharmaceutical, Carrefour, China.org.cn, Chongqing Farsight Printing, Flex, Hunan Shandong USTZE, IBM, JP Morgan, L’Oreal, Sodexo, Standard Chartered GBS China, Taicang Inclusion Factory, UCOMMUNE and Volkswagen Automatic Transmission (Tianjin) Co., Ltd.
Currently, AccorHotels employs more than 250,000 people across 100 countries, and diversity is a key component of the group’s Diversity and Inclusion Program such as gender diversity, integration of people with disabilities, and cultural diversity. Through AccorHotels’ strong commitment to barrier free employment, the diversity and inclusion champions have been working on the various initiatives since 2010 to improve work environment for people with disabilities. In 2015, AccorHotels signed an ILO Global Business and Disability Network Charter and has been an active member of the ILO’s Steering Committee serving as its Vice President in 2017. This year, AccorHotels is the President of the Management Committee for the ILO Network.
“I am very proud to be part of this committee and look forward to my role as Chairperson. Hiring people with disabilities requires empathy and commitment from the various organizations to provide a conducive working environment,” said Grace Xiang, newly elected Chairperson of GBDN China. “Support from the government, local communities and stakeholders are fundamental to creating a cohesive work environment. We hope to share with others our expertise in creating a desirable workplace that brings inclusiveness and diversity.”
“AccorHotels is a global market leader in diversity and inclusion. As a responsible corporate citizen in China and around the world, we have created a work environment that celebrates and embraces diversity. Everyday we are committed to hiring people with disabilities as an integral part of our talent development program. We hope our efforts will continue to inspire others.” Said Gary Rosen, Chairman and Chief Operating Office for AccorHotels Greater China.
GBDN will continue its partnership with the UN in support of its Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) Project by promoting equal opportunities for persons with disabilities across China. The project is currently being implemented by UNESCO, ILO, UNICEF, UNDP (United Nations Development Program) and UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) in support of the Chinese government for people with disability for equality and inclusion to help achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to ensure no one is left behind.