As an active participant in society, through our business activities and their economic, environmental and societal impact, ABB recognizes social performance as a key to sustainable development. Along with our ambition to make a positive contribution economically and environmentally, we see social performance as the third dimension of sustainability.
We have drawn up a social policy, reproduced below, applicable to areas that ABB can directly influence. We will engage in stakeholder review and consultation on this policy, to continuously improve it.
1. ABB in society
To contribute within the scope of our capabilities to improving economic, environmental and social conditions through open dialogue with stakeholders and through active participation in common efforts.
2. Human rights
To support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights.
3. Children and young workers
To ensure that minors are properly protected; and as a fundamental principle, not to employ children or support the use of child labor, except as part of government-approved youth training schemes (such as work-experience programs).
4. Freedom of engagement
To require that all employees enter into employment with the company of their own free will; and not to apply any coercion when engaging employees or support any form of forced or compulsory labor.
5. Health and safety
To provide a safe and healthy working environment at all sites and facilities and to take adequate steps to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of the course of work by minimizing, so far as is reasonably practicable, the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment.
6. Employee consultation and communication
To facilitate regular consultation with all employees to address areas of concern.
To respect the right of all personnel to form and join trade unions of their choice and to bargain collectively.
To ensure that representatives of personnel are not the subject of discrimination and that such representatives have access to their members in the workplace.
To make sure, in any case of major layoffs, that a social benefits and guidance plan is in place, and already known to employees or their official representatives.