Adopt Human Rights
Policies
2004 –
Colgate-Palmolive Company
Whereas, Colgate-Palmolive
Company, currently has extensive overseas operations, and
Whereas, reports of human rights
abuses in the overseas subsidiaries and suppliers of 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, many of these programs
incorporate the conventions of the 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 Convention
29 and 105).
5. There shall be no use of child
labor. (ILO Convention 138), and,
Whereas, independent monitoring
of corporate adherence to these internationally recognized principles 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
shareholders request the Board of Directors to commit the company to the full
implementation of these 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.
Sponsors:
Lead: State of Connecticut Treasurer's Office, Pamela Bartol; Christian Brothers Investment Services