One of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers has agreed a set of corporate social responsibility principles with staff representatives and an international trade union.
DaimlerChrysler developed the principles with its world employee committee, which was set up in July to agree the principles.
The committee was made up of 13 employees elected to represent colleagues at the German-based company’s operations in four continents. DaimlerChrysler employs 372,500 people and has an annual turnover of €152.9billion ($151bn, £97bn).
The principles have also been signed by representatives of the International Metalworkers’ Federation, which worked on a similar agreement with Volkswagen in June.
Based on International Labour Organization standards, the principles lay down commitments on working conditions at DaimlerChrysler sites worldwide. These include guarantees on trade union recognition, equal opportunities, compensation, health and safety, working hours and training.
They also commit the company to support the United Nations Global Compact, which sets out nine corporate social responsibility principles.
Senior managers within each business unit will be responsible for ensuring compliance.
While the DaimlerChrysler principles focus on the company’s own operations, they state that suppliers will be expected to adopt them in order to maintain ‘lasting business relationships’.
DaimlerChrysler will publish its first combined social and environmental report by the end of this year.
In June, the company won a Global Business Council on HIV/Aids award for its work in South Africa.