Human rights

Respect for human rights is at the centre of the Group’s strategy and finds its confirmation in the Ethical Code of the Generali Group, in the European Social Charter and in its support of the United Nations Global Compact initiative.

Specifically, the adhesion to Global Compact stresses the Group commitment to a sustainable economy that respects human and labour rights, environmental protection and fight against corruption.

As a promoter of the ten principles of the Global Compact, the Group complies with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

In order to raise awareness of fundamental human rights, the Group offers a widespread training through an e-learning course, lasting approximately one hour. It will gradually involve all employees over a period of time that should continue through the end of 2013. The training programme was launched at the end of 2010, with the attempt - compatibly, first of all, with the constraints brought about by the availability of the local language translation - to give priority to the distribution to employees of companies operating in countries where the risk of human rights violations is greatest. The first area to be involved in the training programme is Asia, where the course has already been distributed in Hong Kong, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam, whereas China, India, Thailand and the Philippines will follow in the coming months. South America will be next.

The Corporate Social Responsibility units monitors the international standar of the ILO (International Labour Organization), on a yearly basis, by sending out a questionnaire to all Generali Group companies worldwide.

In 2010, this monitoring covered approximately 99% of the Group’s organisation. As regards the main aspects, the following results were obtained:

child labour: no Group employee is younger than 16 years of age. To ensure the respect of this limitation, the companies verify the age of the employees when they are hired;
forced labour: within the Group, there are no cases of forced, compulsory or otherwise irregular labour. All employees are free to rescind their employment contract, with observance of the notice period established by law. In no case does the Group withhold personal documents of its employees for the purpose of limiting their freedom of movement and their switching of jobs;
non discrimination: no cases of discrimination of any kind have been reported in the selection, management and remuneration of the workforce;
freedom of association and collective bargaining: in 2010, 86.8% of the employees work at Group companies in which employees representation exists. 81.2% of the Group employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements; whereas in the companies where collective bargaining agreements are not in force, the workers are hired with a formal written employment contract. 2.4% of the employees work at Group companies that are located in countries where freedom of association and collective bargaining are legally restricted.

The topic of human rights lies with the Group CEO.

last update on 14-09-2011 15:45