GLOBAL COMPACT

Faced with the acceleration or the return of certain practices that present a danger to the environment, human rights and compliance with workplace standards, United National Secretary General Kofi Annan brought up the idea of a Global Compact in a speech that he gave at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 31, 1999.

Since then, the Global Compact has moved into its operational phase. Rombouts has committed to the Compact, thus defending the idea of a more viable and open world economy.

Kofi Annan raised the idea of the Global Compact on January 31, 1999. The operational phase of the Compact was launched at the United Nations headquarters in New York on July 26, 2000.

  • This international initiative brings together companies and organizations within the United Nations, the workplace and society as a whole, centred around ten universal principles related to human rights, working standards and the environment.
  • By adhering to the Global Compact, Rombouts confirmed its desire to ensure that its actions respect human dignity, labour laws and the environment.
    Through this Compact, Rombouts wishes to contribute to the improvement of living conditions for the thousands of people who earn a living from coffee but also to share its experience working in Southern Hemisphere countries. For Rombouts, this is an opportunity to expand its actions and thoughts which have, for more than twenty years, integrated respect for the environment, for human rights and for labour standards.
  • The Global Compact's principles:

The principles of the Global Compact in relation to human rights, to working standards and to the environment are the subject of a universal consensus, and they are inspired by the following documents:

        - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

        - The declaration by the World Labour Organization relative to fundamental labour rights and principles.

        - The Rio Declaration on the environment and development

HUMAN RIGHTS

PRINCIPLE N°1


Firms are invited to encourage and respect international law regarding human rights within the scope of their influence.


PRINCIPLE N°2


To ensure that their own companies are not accomplices in violations of human rights

LABOUR STANDARDS

PRINCIPLE N°3


Firms are invited to respect freedom to associate and to acknowledge the right to collective negotiations;

PRINCIPLE N°4


The elimination of any type of forced or compulsory labour;

PRINCIPLE N°5


Completely eliminating the employment of children;

PRINCIPLE N°6

Eliminating discrimination in the fields of employment and professions;

ENVIRONMENT

PRINCIPLE N°7


Firms are invited to adopt precautionary measures with regard to problems affecting the environment;

PRINCIPLE N°8

Undertaking initiatives to encourage a more responsible attitude towards the environment;

PRINCIPLE N°9


To encourage the development and implementation of environment-friendly technologies;
 

FIGHTING CORRUPTION

PRINCIPLE N°10

Firms are invited to act against any form of corruption, including extortion and bribes.

More information : www.unglobalcompact.org