Over the next few years, the Île-de-France region – which includes Paris and its surrounding areas – will see some big changes in its infrastructure. New transportation and housing developments will provide many opportunities for new business and, in turn, many new jobs.

Unlike most regional development projects, however, those in the Greater Paris region are being encouraged to ensure they are as socially and environmentally conscious as possible, thanks to an ESF-funded project called Mission to Support the Development of Social Clauses (MACS).

MACS encourages infrastructure owners to pledge to be more socially and environmentally responsible by signing up to a Corporate Social Responsibility charter. Issues covered by the charter include making it easier for smaller businesses to be involved in public projects, ensuring more efficient and environmentally-friendly ways of working, and including social clauses in employment contracts to make the available job roles sustainable and accessible to more people.