SOCIAL LEVEL
Human Rights and Working Conditions
We firmly believe that the essence of making a difference in the world of business lies in the "human" aspect, and as a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact since 2006, Borusan adheres to the Human Rights Principles outlined therein. Respecting the human rights of employees and the communities in which it operates while providing a healthy, safe, and equitable work environment for its employees is a top priority for Borusan. In this context we expect our suppliers to uphold the same principles regarding human rights.
Human Rights
Suppliers are expected to develop and implement policies and procedures to safeguard all human rights within their own business operations and those of their suppliers. Borusan maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any human rights violations within its organization or the activities of its suppliers.
At Borusan, we uphold all human rights of our employees and the communities in which we operate, and we prioritize the adoption of these principles by our suppliers. Accordingly, all suppliers are required to adhere to the principles and meet the requirements of international initiatives outlined in the Sustainable Procurement Supplier Guide. In practice, the suppliers are expected to develop and implement policies and procedures to safeguard all human rights within their own business operations and those of their suppliers.
Child Labor
Borusan suppliers have an obligation to prevent any form of forced, trafficked, indentured, bonded, indebted, or unlawful labor, regardless of the circumstances.
Working Conditions
At Borusan, ensuring a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, customers, and suppliers is a top priority. In this context, Borusan suppliers are mandated to:
• Contract with all employees based on freely agreed upon and documented terms of employment,
• Treat all employees equally, respectfully, and with dignity,
All employees are treated with respect and dignity. Practices such as mental, physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal harassment, severe or insulting disciplinary actions, and ill-treatment are neither exercised nor permitted, emphasizing a stance against all forms of violence. There is a commitment to non-discrimination in employment, covering areas such as hiring, compensation, promotion, discipline, termination, or retirement. Particular emphasis is placed on upholding the rights of workers who are most vulnerable to discrimination.
• Pay fair wages to all employees,
All employees receive a comprehensive compensation package that encompasses wages, overtime pay, benefits, and paid leave, meeting or surpassing legal minimum standards or applicable industry benchmarks, whichever is higher, and - where relevant - the remuneration terms stipulated by legally binding collective bargaining agreements are applied.
• Maintain reasonable working hours for all employees,
Employees are not compelled to work beyond the normal and overtime hours permitted by the laws of their respective countries. All overtime work is voluntary.
• Allow employees the freedom to unionize and/or join trade unions and exercise their right to collective bargaining,
The rights of employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining are acknowledged and respected. Employees are not subjected to intimidation or harassment in exercising their rights to join or abstain from joining any organization.
• Ensure a healthy and safe work environment for all employees.
A safe and healthy workplace is ensured to prevent accidents and injuries that may occur as a result of, during, or in connection with the employer's activities.
Occupational Health and Safety
Suppliers of Borusan are mandated to provide a work environment where comprehensive measures are implemented for the occupational health and safety of their employees. They are also required to oversee the accurate and complete implementation of occupational health and safety regulations. In this context, Borusan suppliers are expected to adhere to national and international health and safety standards and regulations as well as legal requirements, establish necessary supervision mechanisms and conduct periodic checks to ensure compliance, take actions aimed at eliminating health and safety risks at the source while continuously minimizing them when not scientifically and technically feasible due to the nature of the work, and improve working conditions for the workforce, including subcontractors, visitors, and interns working within the facilities.
Guided by this understanding, our suppliers are required to;
• Fully comply with all legal requirements.
• Have a formal, written health and safety policy that aligns with national laws, industry requirements, and international standards. This policy should include a commitment from both management and employees to maintain a healthy and safe workplace in an effort to achieve the goal of “zero accidents”.
• Implement a health and safety management system.
A health and safety management system comprises procedures aimed at identifying workplace hazards, evaluating risks, and preventing accidents and exposure to hazardous conditions and substances. It also addresses situations where reducing exposure is not scientifically or technically feasible given the nature of the work. Examples of globally recognized standards and certifications related to health and safety include Occupational Health and Safety Assessment ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety and ILO-OSH 2001 Guidelines for occupational health and safety management systems.
• Provide training to employees on accident prevention, response to accidents, emergency procedures, and the proper use of protective clothing and equipment.
• Execute projects aimed at preventing work accidents, near misses, or occupational diseases.
• Ensure correct and complete implementation of occupational health and safety rules in the workplace.
Equality and Inclusion
Borusan expects its suppliers to refrain from discriminatory employment practices based on various factors such as race, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership, political affiliation, or any other characteristic, as prohibited by the applicable legislation.
At Borusan, we place great emphasis on creating an inclusive and equitable working environment as the cornerstone of our human-centric business approach. We make concerted efforts to prevent discrimination, champion diversity, offer equal opportunities, and foster inclusion across all our operations.
Guided by this understanding, our suppliers are required to:
• Uphold non-discrimination principles based on sex, race, color, ethnic or social origin, genetic characteristics, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age, or sexual orientation.
• Eliminate discrimination in human resources processes such as recruitment, promotion, and remuneration, in accordance with the principle of equality.
• Take a firm stance against all forms of violence and refrain from engaging in or tolerating mental, physical, sexual, psychological, or verbal harassment; severe or insulting disciplinary actions; and ill-treatment; and have policies, procedures, and processes in place to prevent discrimination and violence and to foster an equitable and inclusive work environment.
Borusan suppliers are obligated to provide equal opportunities to all demographic groups, considering characteristics such as race, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, and particularly gender. They are also required to establish policies and processes while undertaking necessary actions to effectively incorporate all segments within their stakeholder group.
We firmly believe that social and individual welfare hinges unconditionally on equal opportunities. Our "Equal Borusan" approach aims to advocate for gender equality, enhance diversity and inclusion, mitigate discrimination, and ensure equal opportunities in all domains.
In this context, our suppliers are tasked with taking action to provide equal opportunities for various vulnerable segments of society, particularly in terms of gender equality, including efforts aimed at eliminating unconscious biases in human resources processes and procedures for implementing measures to prevent gender-based occupational discrimination.
Community Relations
At Borusan, in line with our commitment to addressing societal challenges, we carry out our operations with due regard for generating a positive impact on all stakeholders -particularly local communities, through our exemplary business group model, which harmonizes with the natural and social environment.
Aligned with our objective of fostering social benefit at both the national and regional levels, we aspire to enhance the well-being of the communities in which we operate and contribute to their improvement in all aspects. Our guiding principle involves sharing the benefits we receive from society through the realization of impactful projects.