bat sustainability report 2007 - Human rights

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Strategy and management

HR1  Percentage and total number of significant investment agreements that include human rights clauses or that underwent human rights screening

We do not report on this indicator as we do not believe it is relevant to our business.

HR2  Percentage of significant suppliers and contractors that have undergone screening on human rights and actions taken

We do not currently collate this information for the Group. Our approach to human rights management and our supplier standards include human rights criteria.  More information on these can be found at www.bat.com/humanrights . Our supply chain programmes and Employment programmes also embody key human rights principles.

HR3  Total hours of employee training on policies and procedures concerning aspects of human rights that are relevant to operations, including the percentage of employees trained

This information is more relevant at a local level and we do not collate global data on it.

HR4  Total number of incidents of discrimination and actions taken

We do not currently collate this information for the Group but our Group Employment Principles make clear that we are against all forms of unfair discrimination.  We are dedicated to providing equal opportunity to each employee and will not discriminate when making decisions on hiring, promotion or retirement on the grounds of the employees’ or candidates’ race, colour, gender, age, social class, religion, smoking habits, sexual orientation, politics, or disability, subject to the inherent requirements of the role to be performed.  A fundamental aim is to ensure a diverse and representative workforce profile through equal employment opportunities.  Our companies also observe national legislation relevant to positive discrimination.

HR5  Operations identified in which the right to exercise freedom of association or collective bargaining may be at significant risk, and actions taken to support these rights

This information is more relevant locally and we do not collate global data on it. 

HR6  Operations identified as having significant risk for incidents of child labour, and measures taken to contribute to the elimination of child labour

We do not currently collate this information for the Group.  Within their business environments, each company is encouraged to use our Human Rights Diagnostic Tool and our Human Rights Survey to identify if this risk is present in their market.

Management of human rights risks forms part of our CSR checklist which is an element of our Group audit process.

The Group Child Labour Policy states that children are not to be employed within our operations and our Employment Principles state our opposition to child labour exploitation.  Our Employment Principles are provided to all our companies and performance against them is monitored through our internal audit process.

We also work to tackle child labour exploitation in the tobacco growing supply chain through the Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco Growing Foundation (ECLT), of which we were a founder member, and through specific programmes supported by our companies.  We seek to ensure that, within the supply chain, the welfare, health and safety of children are paramount at all times and that practices undertaken by children for the development of vocational skills do not conflict with or impede their educational development, including school attendance.

There is more information on our work with the Eliminating Child Labour in Tobacco Growing Foundation at its website www.eclt.org  and at www.bat.com/eliminatingchildlabour 

HR7  Operations identified as having significant risk for incidents of forced or compulsory labour, and measures taken to contribute to the elimination of forced or compulsory labour

Our companies do not tolerate any form of forced or compulsory labour within their operations.  Within their business environments, the tools they use to identify high-risk markets are outlined in the People and Culture section of our Sustainability Report, but we feel that reporting specific actions taken is more relevant locally.

HR8  Percentage of security personnel trained in the organization's polices or procedures concerning aspects of human rights that are relevant to operations

We do not report on this indicator as we do not believe it is relevant to our business.

HR9  Total number of incidents of violations involving rights of indigenous people and actions taken

This information is more relevant locally and we do not collate global data on it.