| |
|
|
Global Compact Principle |
Brief COP Statement
|
Reference in Implats’ Sustainability Report
|
| 1. |
Businesses should support and respect the
protection of international human rights within their sphere of influence. |
|
The underlying principle of respecting human
rights informs our business practices and procedures, and is embedded in our
strategic objectives. Our commitment to human rights is described in the Company’s
Code of Ethics and our values. Specific provision is made for human rights related
issues in our formal agreements with employee union representatives. While our contractor agreements do not
specifically contain human rights clauses, contractors are expected to abide
by our Company policies, practices, standards and the law of the countries in
which they are operating. During the
reporting period our policies were amended to include the obligation for contractors
to respect and abide the UN Global Compact principles. We have undertaken to
improve our monitoring of contracted labour on human rights issues and are
continuing to focus on this area. Through stakeholder engagement processes,
material community issues pertaining to human rights are addressed in
community forums. No claims of human rights abuse were made against the
Company in the year under review.
|
A general overview of our approach to human
rights is provided in our review on Promoting
good governance (SDR page 45).
|
| 2. |
Businesses should make sure their own
corporations are not complicit in human rights abuses.
|
|
We strive to uphold this principle through our
focus on ensuring compliance with all applicable legislation and by
encouraging rigorous implementation of the company code of ethics. In the
context of the recent tragic circumstances relating to the management of
public order following the strike action in the platinum industry, we recognise
the increased importance of adopting proactive measures to identify and
address areas where the potential for complicity in human rights abuses may
arise. Managing this risk will require greater focus on developing and
implementing human rights awareness-raising, communication, monitoring and
assurance systems, particularly amongst those vested with managing security
and public order issues.
|
A general overview of our approach to human
rights is provided in our review on Promoting
good governance (SDR page 45).
|
| 3. |
Businesses should uphold freedom of
association and the effective recognition of the right to collective
bargaining.
|
|
We recognise the right of employees to collective
bargaining and freedom of association in accordance with all relevant local
labour legislation, and we strive to provide an environment that fosters
open, honest and effective relations between management, employees and
elected union representatives. We monitor labour relations in our operations;
monthly labour relations reports are submitted from our operations to the
EXCO, and an independent third party conducts biannual surveys of labour
relations. Following the unforeseen
strike action this year, we have recognised the need to significantly revise
our strategic approach to employee relations. Our sustainable development
report includes a detailed review of our assessment of the causes of the
strike action, the implications for our industrial and employee relations
activities and a description of our proposed response measures.
|
Details on our labour relations activities are provided
in our review of Fostering positive
employee relations (SDR pages 58-59). An assessment of the underlying
causes of the strike action at Impala’s operations is provided on pages 59.
|
| 4. |
Businesses should uphold the elimination of all
forms of forced and compulsory labour. |
|
All our labour is sourced from the open labour
market, and all employees are provided with contracts in accordance with local
labour legislation; they are free to resign at any time in accordance with
legal processes.
|
Details on our labour relations activities are
provided in Fostering positive employee
relations (SDR pages 58 - 59).
|
| 5. |
Businesses should uphold the effective
abolition of child labour. |
|
Implats does not make use of child labour in any
of its operations. We monitor and ensure our compliance with the labour
legislation in the two countries within which we operate. We have not
detected any significant risks of child labour being used.
|
A general overview of our approach to human
rights is provided in our review on Promoting
good governance (SDR page 45).
|
| 6. |
Businesses should uphold the elimination of
discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. |
|
We strive to eliminate discrimination in all
forms throughout our workforce, and are committed to promoting employment
equity and diversity. In our Zimbabwean operation we have been working with
the government to meet its expectations regarding indigenisation. Over the
last five years we have made valuable progress in promoting diversity across
most levels of management throughout the Group. Our biggest challenge, and
one that is shared throughout the industry, is in ensuring greater diversity
at the EXCOM level. We have made useful progress in employing women in core
positions throughout the Group, and we are well positioned relative to our
competitors at management level, with the exception of the skilled level. Our
performance and prospects on employment equity and indigenisation are
outlined in more detail in our sustainable development report.
|
A review of our employment equity performance and
our initiatives on this issue is provided in Promoting employment equity and diversity (SDR pages 62-65). Refer
also to GRI tables on www.Implats.co.za. Our response to calls for
indigenisation in Zimbabwe is provided on page 75.
|
| 7. |
Businesses should support a precautionary
approach to environmental challenges.
|
|
As a company involved in the exploration,
extraction and processing of mineral resources, we inevitably have an impact
on the natural environment. We believe, however,
that through our responsible environmental management practices, and through
the nature of our resulting investments in social and human capital, we have
a net positive impact on society. This contribution is further enhanced by
the role that PGM metals play in the move to a greener economy. The extent to
which we have adopted a precautionary approach to managing environmental
challenges is reviewed in our sustainability report.
|
Our approach to promoting environmental
stewardship is described in Maintaining
access to strategic natural resources and minimising our environmental
impacts (SDR page 66 -74).
|
| 8. |
Businesses should undertake initiatives to
promote greater environmental responsibility. |
|
As outlined in more detail in our report, we have
adopted numerous initiatives aimed at promoting environmental responsibility.
These include policies and programmes relating to: optimising energy usage and promoting
security of supply; promoting
sustainable water use and
reducing pollution; reducing our atmospheric
emissions; responding to risks and opportunities
brought about by
climate change; ensuring effective land management and promoting
biodiversity; managing our waste streams; and striving to reduce
environmental
incidents.
|
Our approach to promoting environmental
stewardship is described in Maintaining
access to strategic natural resources and minimising our environmental
impacts (SDR page 66-74).
|
| 9. |
Businesses should encourage the development
and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies. |
|
As outlined in our report, the Group is working with government and academic
institutions on the development of fuel-cell technologies that will utilise
PGMs in alternative energy sources, which can be used for local technology
transfer and that can reduce the business’s reliance on energy derived from
fossil fuels.
|
Our approach to promoting environmental
stewardship is described in Maintaining
access to strategic natural resources and minimising our environmental
impacts (SDR page 66-74).
|
| 10. |
Businesses should
work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery. |
|
Implats has a zero tolerance stance on fraud and
corruption. We require our employees, business partners, contractors and
associates to conduct themselves in accordance with the Implats Code of
Ethics and our fraud policy, both of which are fully compliant with the
Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act of 2004. Our fraud policy
outlines conflicts of interest, the prevention of dissemination of Company
information, the acceptance of donations and gifts, and the protection of the
intellectual property and patent rights of the Company. The policy outlines
the disciplinary action (including dismissal or prosecution) that will be
taken in the event of any contravention. A “whistle- blowing” toll-free
helpline is in place to facilitate the confidential reporting of alleged
incidents that are reported to the Chairman of the Board.
|
A general overview of our approach to addressing
corruption is provided in our review on Promoting
good governance (SDR page 44).
|
