We are committed to respecting our employees’ rights in line with the International Labour Organization’s Declaration of Fundamental Human Rights at Work. These include:
- A commitment not to exploit children through direct employment or indirectly through joint ventures, contractors and suppliers. According to our annual questionnaire of senior Shell country representatives, Shell companies in 99% of countries where we operate had procedures to prevent child labour in their own operations in 2007.
- Freedom from forced labour. In 99% of countries where we operate, we have procedures in place to achieve this.
- Freedom from discrimination. Through equal opportunity in hiring, career development, promotion, training and reward, in line with government policies and while respecting local practices.
- Freedom of association. Employees can join a union wherever permitted by national law.
In addition to protecting the labour rights of our employees, we also seek to create a satisfying and challenging place to work that encourages people to make the best use of their talents, and provides them with flexible working conditions to meet their individual needs.
As part of our process for awarding a contract, we check that potential contractors are able to maintain our standards, including respecting human rights. In 2007, for example, Shell companies in 98% of the countries in which we operate required that their contractors had a procedure in place to prevent child labour, according to our annual internal questionnaire of senior Shell country representatives. Last year we also made it a requirement in new contracts for all contractors to follow our Code of Conduct. The Code sets out, among other things, our standards for creating an equal opportunity workplace where staff are free from harassment.
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