Preamble
The Happich Ellamp Group recognises its social responsibility and the ten principles on which "Global Compact" is based. In order to implement these common goals the Happich Ellamp Group has agreed upon the following fundamentals with its international workers' and employees' representatives.
We support the initiative of the United Nations and together with other companies and organisations it is our aim to prevent the irreversible process of globalisation from instilling anxiety into human beings world-wide; we also wish to show globalisation's human face by creating and safeguarding jobs.
We are convinced that social responsibility is an important factor in the long-term success of the company; this is also valid for our investors, business partners, customers and employees. We can only contribute in this manner towards global peace and world-wide prosperity in the future.
A pre-condition for the perception of this responsibility, however, is being competitive and remaining permanently competitive. A perception of social responsibility is also an essential element of value-oriented corporate management.
The following principles which adhere to the conventions of international work organisations are valid for the Happich Ellamp Group throughout the world; when they were drawn up attention was paid to the many different cultures and the multitude of social moral concepts and these have been taken into consideration.
Human Rights
The Happich Ellamp Group respects and supports compliance with internationally recognised human rights.
Forced Labour
The Happich Ellamp Group outlaws any form of forced labour.
Child Labour
The Happich Ellamp Group vehemently opposes any kind of child labour and under no circumstances whatsoever will it participate in any exploitation of this nature.
The Happich Ellamp Group actively participates in effectively abolishing exploitative child labour.
Children may not be impeded in their development. Their security and health may not be prejudiced. Their human dignity is to be respected.
Equal Opportunities
The Happich Ellamp Group undertakes to ensure equal job opportunities and to refrain from any kind of discrimination unless national legislation explicitly provides for selection according to certain criteria. Workers or employees may not be treated any differently by reason of their sex, race, disability, origin, religion, age or sexual preference.
Same Earnings for the Same Work
Within the framework of national rules and regulations the Happich Ellamp Group will observe the principle of "same earnings for the same work".
Tasks and responsibilities executed in the course of work fulfilment for our group of companies are allocated to certain recompense groups within clearly defined basic parameters. This principle will be consistently pursued at all hierarchy levels within our group of companies taking performance linked factors and those specific to any particular country into consideration.
Relationship with Employees and Workers' Representatives
- The Happich Ellamp Group recognises the human right of any individual to join a trade union
organisation. During such organisations' campaigns our companies and executives will remain neutral;
the trade unions and the group will adhere to basic democratic principles and thus ensure that employees
will be able to make free decisions. Respect will be paid to the right for collective bargaining.
When defining this human right, national legislation and existing agreements must be observed whereby the right of freedom of association will even be safeguarded in states where freedom of association is not protected. - Co-operation between employees, workers' representatives and trade unions will be organised in a constructive manner and every endeavour will be made to achieve a fair balance between the economic interests of the group and the interests of the employees. Even in contentious disputes the aim will be to secure a sustainable and constructive liaison on a continuing basis.
- It will remain the objective of the group, in as far as this is possible, to involve all employees directly, keep them informed and let them participate actively. Behaviour and the atmosphere of communication towards employees will be governed by respect and fairness.
Conditions of Employment
The Happich Ellamp Group opposes all kinds of exploitive conditions of employment.
Health Protection
The Happich Ellamp Group will safeguard labour safety and health protection in the workplace at least to the degree defined by national regulations and will support further developments in the improvement of working environments.
Remuneration
The Happich Ellamp Group respects the right for adequate remuneration which will at least reflect legally guaranteed minimum wages and will be oriented to the specific labour market involved.
Working Hours
The Happich Ellamp Group guarantees that all national regulations and agreements concerning working hours and regular paid holidays will be observed.
Qualification
The Happich Ellamp Group supports its employees in obtaining higher qualifications as this ensures a high level of performance and a higher work quality.
Combating Corruption
Upright and transparent corporate activity is the basis of a company's successful and enduring operations. For this reason the Happich Ellamp Group rejects any kind of corruptive action or behaviour damaging to the company and will combat this.
Suppliers
The Happich Ellamp Group supports and encourages its suppliers to introduce and implement similar principles within their own organisations. The Happich Ellamp Group expects its suppliers to adhere to these principles as a basis for mutual relations.
The Happich Ellamp Group views these principles as a very good foundation for long-term business relationships.
Implementation Processes
These principles are mandatory world-wide throughout the Happich Ellamp Group and will be substantiated and implemented for each and every employee including executives.
These fundamentals will be made accessible to all employees and their lobby groups in a suitable manner. The communication measures will be discussed beforehand with the workers' representatives.
The management bodies of each respective business unit will be responsible for compliance with these principles; they will take suitable measures to ensure compliance. They will also appoint contacts to whom business partners, customers and employees can turn in individual cases. Under no circumstances may a petition have any adverse consequences for the person who submitted it.
The management board of the Happich Ellamp Group will regularly report to and consult our international workers' representatives concerning the perception of social responsibility within the corporation and the implementation of these principles.
Wuppertal, February 2007
|
Pierfrancesco Corcione (Chief Executive Officer) |
Paolo Petruccioli (VP Human Resoures) |