UN Global Compact
In 2000, the then Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, launched the Global Compact to harness the power of collective action in the promotion of responsible corporate citizenship. The Global Compact provides a framework of ten principles in four different categories - human rights, labour standards, the environment & anti-corruption - within which companies are invited to manage their operations.
EI applies the following ten principles of the UN Global Compact :
Human Rights
- Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and
- Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
Labour Standards
- Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
- Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;
- Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and
- Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
Environment
- Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
- Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
- Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
Anti-Corruption
- Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.