34
Helping cover their local communities’ basic needs in infrastructures is a common principle shared by all Group companies. In line with
this Principle, in 2013 we increased our corresponding expenditure by 48%, thus contributing substantially to the smooth operation of
our local communities.
GENERAL DIRECTION: To further develop collaborations with local bodies and to systematically investigate the basic needs of
local communities in infrastructures.
In 2013, the total contribution of the Group companies to local suppliers, expressed in terms of economic value, stood at 30% of the
Group companies’ total purchases budget. NOTE: In meeting their needs, our subsidiaries in the Metallurgy & Mining sector give pri-
ority to local suppliers (according to their needs and specific characteristics and irrespective of the corresponding share of their total
purchases budget), thus contributing to the development of the local economy in the community where they operate.
GENERAL DIRECTION: No deviation from our policy, whose objective is to gradually stabilise the share of outlays to local suppliers to
a level between 40% and 50% of our total purchases budget (always taking into account the particular characteristics of each one of
our business activity sectors).
With their adoption of international and national standards, the Group companies undertake that the stages of their products’ lifecy-
cle and their activities in general do not pose risks to public health.
ACTION PLAN: All Group subsidiaries to implement specific voluntary initiatives during 2014, which will focus on information
dissemination and the prevention of serious diseases (other than occupational ones) and will be addressed to their employees and
to the citizens of the local communities where they operate.
Although no incidents of corruption in the Group were reported for yet another year in 2013, we voluntarily undertook the following:
(a) To develop and disclose our Management Approach on Corruption, which will serve as reference to the Group in further develop-
ing this particular area and (b) to carry out a special Self-Assessment exercise in all our subsidiaries, investigating the existence of poli-
cies and procedures that strengthen our policy regarding the prevention of corruption and bribery, in accordance with the guidelines
accompanying the relevant tool of Transparency International.
GENERAL DIRECTION: Evaluation of the results, briefing of our subsidiaries and development and gradual implementation of poli-
cies, procedures and special preventive mechanisms (as reported in the corresponding section).
All Group business units comply fully with the laws in force. No incidents of forced or compulsory labour have occurred in any one of
the Group’s subsidiaries. In the context of our initiatives during 2013 (as these are presented in the corresponding section), we planned
and implemented for the very first time, in all our subsidiaries, a special Self-Assessment exercise modelled after the special self-assessment
tool recommended by the UN Global Compact regarding the protection of Human Rights, with a particular focus on the issue of forced
labour.
The Group companies have secured the commitment of a small percentage between 1% and 30% of their key suppliers and business part-
ners regarding the adoption of measures to control and combat forced labour in their activities.
ACTION PLAN: We seek to raise awareness levels in all our subsidiaries regarding the need to promote the principles of the
UN Global Compact in our supply chain, in order to secure the commitment of our Group’s key suppliers and business part-
ners – at levels ranging from 31% to 60% – to the avoidance of practices which may encourage forced or compulsory labour
in their work environment.
All Group business units comply with the laws in force. In the context of the self-assessment exercise regarding the protection of Hu-
man Rights which was carried out in our subsidiaries in 2013 and placed particular emphasis on the issue of child labour, no deficien-
cies were established in terms of procedures and no incidents involving child labour were reported.
The Group companies have secured the commitment of a small percentage between 1% and -30% of their key suppliers and business
partners regarding the adoption of measures to control and combat child labour in their activities.
ACTION PLAN: We seek to raise awareness levels in all our subsidiaries regarding the need to promote the principles of the
UN Global Compact in our supply chain, in order to secure the commitment of our Group’s key suppliers and business part-
ners – at levels ranging from 31% to 60% – to the avoidance of practices which may encourage child labour in their work
environment.
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18