Human Rights
Among the different social responsibilities assumed by Anglo American where it has activities globally is the adhesion to important mechanisms to promote human rights. Among these, we can point to the Global Compact, an initiative of the UN (United Nations) to encourage companies to adopt corporate social responsibility and sustainability policies. The Pact seeks to promote dialogue between companies and all interested sectors (NGOs, unions, suppliers, among others) for the development of a more inclusive and sustainable global market.
The companies that adhered to the Global Compact on a voluntary basis signed a commitment to make their activities transparent and to render accounts to society. Anglo American is also a signatory of the Voluntary Safety Principles and Human Rights, a set of eight guidelines related to respect for human rights in activities linked to the safety and security of assets and people, adopted by the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, Norway and Holland, as well as by company in the extraction industry, energy and many international NGOs.
Anglo American’s commitment to fighting any cases of corruption and slave and child labor, among other areas, is also clearly expressed in its Guide to Good Corporate Citizenship – Business Principles, which is currently undergoing updating. It is worth mentioning that Anglo American applies the same principles that orient its Guide to all its suppliers and third parties, and requires full compliance with all topics.
Cases of sexual, religious, social, national, or opinion-related discrimination or intolerance are monitored and fought in all Anglo American sectors and locations. In 2009, there were no cases of discrimination due to ethnic origin, color, sex, religion, ideology, nationality or social origin.
In 2009, Anglo American did not identify any risks to the freedom of association nor to collective bargaining. This year, there was a revision of the Business Principles and of the new items of Integrity to be given in a training session. The company also maintained the “CAL Social”, which included specific details on social labor questions. The documentation on collective bargaining is duly registered at the HR files, and the communications channel on the union is open and transparent.
The Company also did not identify the occurrence of any child labor. Minors under the age of 18 are only allowed to work through the government program “Young Apprentice.”
No operation with a risk of forced labor or analogous condition was identified. In the areas of exploration, workers are hired with group life insurance; they receive uniforms and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Three meals a day are provided. In locations with lodging, there are bedrooms, bathrooms and a meal area with sanitary and hygienic conditions.
Anglo American has copies of the employee records, personal protective equipment delivery records, training records, incident books as required by the Labor and Employment Ministry (MTE), municipal government permit, copy of environmental licenses when necessary and copies of the mineral exploration permits.
Service providers are responsible for maintaining documentation referring to their employees. There is also a project for full supervision in all contracting and subcontracting, as well as external audits to prevent irregular events.
To ensure respect for human rights, the employees of the asset security area, who are outsourced, receive training in the company’s policies and procedures. Legal documents are required of contracted companies, including legal training of their employees. Anglo American employees did not receive training at any of the units.