The company PROYME ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION since 2011 is a signatory to the Global Compact initiative of the United Nations.
The 10 Principles of the Global Compact of the United Nations on human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption enjoy universal consensus and are derived from:
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• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• The Declaration of the International Labor Organization on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
• The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.
• The United Nations Convention against Corruption.
The UN Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.
PRINCIPLES OF UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT
1. “Businesses should support and respect the protection of fundamental human rights, internationally recognized within their sphere of influence”
Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, irrespective of nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, language, or other status distinction. These rights are interrelated, interdependent and indivisible, as defined gives us the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations.
2. “Companies must ensure that their companies are not complicit in the violation of Human Rights”
Complicity The term refers to being involved in a case of abuse of human rights that companies, governments or other institutions are doing. Respect for human rights also refers to ensure compliance by other companies, which form part of the supply chain, beyond the direct business. The risk of being complicit in the abuse of human rights is particularly high in countries with weak governments or where the violation of human rights is widespread, the risk of collusion exists in all sectors and countries.
3. “Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining”
Freedom of association recognizes the right of employers and workers to form associations and unions according to their needs. Employers should not interfere with the decision of an employee of their right to join affiliation or discriminate against, nor a representative of the employee. The freedom to associate involves employers, trade unions and employee representatives can freely discuss their problems in the workplace in order to achieve jointly acceptable agreements. This freedom of association also allows workers (and organizations) exercise their right to defend their economic and social interests. Collective bargaining refers to the process or activity leading to the signing of a collective agreement. Collective bargaining is a voluntary process used to determine the requirements and conditions of work and to regulate relations between employers, workers and their organizations.
4. “Businesses should uphold the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labor”
Forced or compulsory labor is performed by any work or service which is obtained from a person by threat or punishment and for which the said person has not volunteered to do it. Providing wages or other compensation to a worker necessarily indicate that work is not being performed forced or coerced. By law, labor should be freely given and employees should be free to leave following the rules that have been established.
5. “Businesses should uphold the effective abolition of child labor”
The term “child labor” should not be confused with “youth employment” or “student work.” Child labor is a form of exploitation constitutes a violation of human rights and is recognized and defined by international agencies.
6. “Businesses should uphold the elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation”
The definition of discrimination in employment and occupation is “any distinction, exclusion or preference that produces rejection or inequality of opportunity or treatment in employment or occupation” by reason of “race, color, sex , religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin. “Discrimination may also be based on a physical or mental disability. Obviously, distinctions based strictly on the inherent requirements of the job are not considered discriminatory.
7. “Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges”
Prevention consists of measures, even before tests have scientifically proven that prevent a delay in the implementation of these measures may end up damaging natural resources or society. The key element of the precautionary approach, from a business point of view, is the idea of prevention rather than cure. In other words, it is more profitable to take preventive measures to ensure that it will not harm the environment.
8. “Businesses should undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility”
Companies gain legitimacy through meeting the needs of society and society increasingly expresses a clear need to develop environmentally sustainable practices. One way that companies have to demonstrate its commitment to greater environmental responsibility is by changing its modus operandi from the so called “traditional methods” to more responsible approaches when considering environmental issues.
9. “Businesses should encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies”
Encourage the development and diffusion of friendly technology environment is a long-term challenge for a company that draw on both the management and research capabilities of the organization. In order to engage with the Global Compact technologies considered environmentally friendly are those described in Chapter 34 of Agenda 21 as “environmentally sound”.
10. “Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery”
Principle 10 commits the signatories of the Global Compact not only to avoid bribery, extortion and other forms of corruption, but also to develop specific policies and programs that address the issue of corruption. They posed the challenge companies to join governments, UN agencies and civil society for a more transparent global economy. Corruption can take many forms, from a small influence peddling to more institutionalized bribery.
