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Global Corporate Accountability
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| Filed with: Amerada Hess, American
Eagle, Ann Taylor, Ball, Colgate Palmolive, Del Monte, Dillards, Federated
Dept. Stores, Gymboree, Hasbro, Heinz, Home Depot, JC Penney, Kellogg,
Lands End, Lowes, Men's Wearhouse, Nordstrom, Phillip Morris, Procter&
Gamble, Revlon, Sara Lee, Stride Rite, Talbots, Target, Wal-Mart |
GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS
Whereas, our company currently has extensive overseas operations, and
Whereas, reports of human rights abuses in the overseas subsidiaries
and suppliers of some U.S.-based corporations has led to an increased
public awareness of the problems of child labor, "sweatshop"
conditions,
and the denial of labor rights in U.S. corporate overseas operations,
and
Whereas, corporate violations of human rights in these overseas operations can lead to negative publicity, public protests, and a loss of consumer confidence which can have a negative impact on shareholder value, and
Whereas, a number of corporations have implemented independent monitoring
programs with respected human rights and religious organizations to strengthen
compliance with international human rights norms in subsidiary
and supplier factories, and
Whereas, these standards incorporate the conventions of the United Nation's
International Labor Organization
(ILO) on workplace human rights which include the following principles:
1) All workers have the right to form and join trade unions and to bargain
collectively. (ILO Conventions 87 and 98)
2) Workers representatives shall not be the subject of discrimination
and shall have access to all workplaces
necessary to enable them to carry out their representation functions.
(ILO Convention 135)
3) There shall be no discrimination or intimidation in employment. Equality
of opportunity and treatment shall be provided regardless of race, color,
sex, religion, political opinion, age, nationality, social origin, or
other
distinguishing characteristics. (ILO Convention 100 and 111)
4) Employment shall be freely chosen. There shall be no use of force,
including bonded or prison labor. (ILO Conventions 29 and 105)
5) There shall be no use of child labor. (ILO Convention 138) and,
Whereas, independent monitoring of corporate adherence to these standards
is essential if consumer and investor confidence in our company's commitment
to human rights is to be maintained,
Therefore, be it resolved that the company commit itself to the implementation
of a code of corporate conduct based on the aforementioned ILO human rights
standards by its international suppliers and in its own international
production facilities and commit to a program of outside, independent
monitoring of compliance with these standards.