Siemens in the UN Global Compact
Commitment to and implementation of the ten principles
In November 2003, Siemens joined the Global Compact Initiative of the United Nations, thereby committing itself to the Global Compact’s code of values, comprising ten principles. In our annual Sustainability Report, we give an account of progress in establishing these principles in our company.
Our basic guiding principles
The Global Compact works as a values-oriented platform. Its goal is to emphasize the worldwide distribution of and compliance with sustainable rules of behavior through cooperation between states, companies, and civil society. This platform is intended to create transparency and dialogue to point out and distribute good practices supported by basic principles applicable worldwide. The code of values comprises ten principles derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Declaration of the Basic Principles and Rights of Labor of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the principles of the Rio declaration on the environment and development and relating to human rights, labor standards, environmental protection, and the fight against corruption. Further details can be found in the chapter, “International guidelines.”
Siemens has a tradition and a corporate culture that focuses on social responsibility. Since the company’s founding, its goal has been to pass on our inheritance to coming generations, because we see ourselves as part of society in nearly 190 countries, and because we shape the future not only with innovation, but also with education. Our participation in the Global Compact underscores this commitment. Siemens has pledged to implement human rights and fundamental labor rights, environmental protection, and the fight against corruption in the company and to further their acceptance and promotion within its area of influence. In line with this commitment, we therefore expect compliance with the ten principles particularly by our employees, suppliers, and business partners worldwide.
Our OSRAM Division and some of our Regional Companies are themselves participants in the Global Compact.
Management systems and implementation measures
Siemens sees the ten principles of the Global Compact as a basic measure of behavior for managers and workers throughout the company, and also for suppliers and business partners. Our 2008 Sustainability Report contains extensive information on implementation of the principles in our company, also allowing direct access to additional information available on our corporate website.
Progress reporting
In accordance with the principles of the Global Compact, we report annually on the progress we make in the areas of human rights, basic labor rights, environmental protection, and the fight against corruption. Particularly in the fight against corruption, we have made substantial progress in the last three years by improving our compliance system.
We first integrated our progress reporting in fiscal 2007 in our Corporate Responsibility Report. The Siemens 2008 Sustainability Report gives detailed information on our activities, progress, indicators, and goals. A dedicated index makes it easy to find this information in the report. A further index contained in the 2008 Sustainability Report on the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI 3) permits direct access to additional information available on our corporate website, likewise with correlation to the ten principles of the Global Compact.