The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles. Anglo American joined the Global Compact in 2004, signalling our commitment to human rights, environmental stewardship, labour rights and anti-corruption.
Anglo American does not tolerate any form of unfair discrimination, inhumane treatment, forced labour, child labour, harassment or intimidation in the workplace. We are committed to the labour rights principles of the Global Compact, including the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, the eradication of child and forced labour and non-discrimination. We expect our supply chain to strive to adhere to all of our employment and labour-rights principles.
Principle 3: Business should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining.
Anglo American’s Business Principles recognise the right of our employees to freedom of association and to collective bargaining – a commitment that is supported in our Group Human Resources Policy, the Anglo Social Way and the Anglo Supply Chain Sustainable Development Code. More than 70% of Anglo American employees are represented by work council, trade unions or other similar bodies and are covered by collective bargaining agreements.
Principles 4 and 5: Business should eliminate all forms of forced and compulsory labour and ensure effective abolition of child labour.
We prohibit child labour in our operations and continued to report no cases of forced labour or child labour at Anglo American during 2010. Our Business Principles also state that we will develop a responsible approach to ending child labour that ensures the welfare of the children, should we encounter cases in our supply chain. The Anglo Supply Chain Sustainable Development Code prohibits the use of exploitative child labour and states that the Company will not tolerate forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour.
Principle 6: Eliminate discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
Anglo American’s commitment to eliminate discrimination is included in our Business Principles, and supported by the Anglo American Social Way and Group Human Resources policy, which states that Anglo American and its subsidiaries will promote workplace equality and will seek to eliminate all forms of unfair or arbitrary discrimination. The Anglo American Supply Chain Sustainable Development Code also requires that suppliers eliminate all forms of unfair discrimination and encourage diversity in their workforce.
It is our policy to provide equitable access to employment opportunities and to employ the best person for any role. We will put in place meaningful support structures based on individual needs for those who may have been previously disadvantaged, to enable every employee to realise their full potential. Diversity is of particular importance in South Africa, which hosts the majority of Anglo American employees. At management level in South Africa, 46% of employees are ‘historically disadvantaged’ and 19% are female. Both of these figures represent improved levels of diversity since 2006 and exceed national diversity targets.