• To our stakeholders:
I am pleased to confirm that National Institute of Chemistry reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption.
In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We also commit to share this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.
National Institute of Chemistry is a world known international research organization on chemistry and chemistry related field. Established in 1946 as a chemical laboratory now it is now organized as public research institution that covers science, research and development activity. Basic and applied research are oriented towards fields which are of long-term importance to both Slovenia and the world: biotechnology, environmental protection, structural and theoretical chemistry, analytical chemistry, materials research, and chemical engineering, through which the institute is in line with the needs of the domestic chemical, pharmaceutical, tire, and food industries. The work of the Institute is also in line with the priority thematic areas of the 7th Framework Program of the EU, which places an emphasis on genomics and biotechnology for health, nanotechnology, quality and safety of food, as well as nutrition, sustainable development, and global change. Becoming a member of Global Compact in 2010 was a very important issue for us and gave us possibility to develop and open unique opportunity to promote idea of socially responsible business.
Sincerely yours,
Prof. Dr. Janko Jamnik, director

• NIC strongly supports the principles stated in the universal declaration of Human rights and ensures that all NIC employees abide to the same principles. NIC evaluates and responds to human right s issues within its business operation on regular bases. Management of NIC understands the importance of healthy and safe working conditions, good internal psychological climate within the company. NIC strictly follows the Slovenian and EU laws on health and safety regulations. Labor relations comply with Slovenian laws. The NIC employees have the possibility to express their complains or commends anonimuosly. Employees are treated with high respect, they are enabled to have a continuous education, they have the rights to sick leave, holidays ect. In 2010 NIC obtained a Family friendly organization certificate of which we are particulary proud. For few years now NIC also follows the ISO 9001 certification. Since its establishment NIC creates new work places for researches and young researchers. NIC takes part in an European project Genis Lab that promotes women in science with basic goal to achieve gender eaquality in all research fields. In general, the human right related risks are low.

When there is a potential risk of abuse of human rights all employees have the possibility to risolve the problems with higher management and law department in NIC. Employees have the possiblity to express their opinion and complaints in different ways (survey, anonymous suggestions, comunication with the superior coworker).
NIC does not cooperate with companies originating from countries or areas where Human Rights are breached.

Comments are addressed seriously and responsibly and are promptly resolved.

• NIC employees are free to be a member of any association, including trade union. In addition, employees are welcome to attend sports activities that are organized and paid by NIC in order to build friendly relationships among employees. NIC supports this kind of activity since it strongly believes that this kind of activity would bring more work satisfaction.
NIC does not collaborate with countries where compulsory labour is implemented.
NIC does not employ children nor cooperates with companies that do so. NIC is strongly against child labour.
NIC is strongly active in the field of labor principles. There is no forced and compulsory labour. NIC shares the idea of gender equality therefore the relation between man and woman employees is approximately 45:55 in favor of woman. All personnel are entitled to join union for protection of individual and collective interest. NIC acknowledge the role of the union representative and gives the possibility to union individuals to hold meetings at the NIC premises. Meetings are held few times a year or more often when necessary. The union representative can talk to the NIC management at any time necessary. All employees have contracts stating the terms and conditions of service. NIC also allows the union participants micro credits with no additional interest rate.
NIC Employees may leave work for any personal reason and have the freedom to leave the company. NIC also strongly supports the education therefore it finances the education of employees (from different languages, post graduate studies, congresses, ect.) NIC also supports employment of young researches. In year 2011 there were 70 young researches at the NIC. There are few research projects dedicated to woman where NIC represents woman in science.
NIC stand committed not to resort to any form of forced and compulsory labour. NIC also promote international exchange of workers

NIC has suggestion box, call center or grievance mechanisms.
Awareness raising or training for employees on labour rights and policies.
All NIC employees's health and safety of all employees is ensured.
NIC prevents discrimination of all kinds and ensures comparable pay for comparable work.
NIC has consultation with employees and other stakeholders.

NIC does not employ children nor cooperates with companies that do so. NIC is strongly against child labour.
NIC is strongly active in the field of labor principles. There is no forced and compulsory labour. NIC shares the idea of gender equality therefore the relation between man and woman employees is approximately 45:55 in favor of woman. All personnel are entitled to join union for protection of individual and collective interest. NIC acknowledge the role of the union representative and gives the possibility to union individuals to hold meetings at the NIC premises. Meetings are held few times a year or more often when necessary. The union representative can talk to the NIC management at any time necessary. All employees have contracts stating the terms and conditions of service. NIC also allows the union participants micro credits with no additional interest rate.

• Not only that NIC uses the established environmental principals, but NIC as a research organization performs many research projects that include environmental friendly technologies like sun cells, lithium battery, low/no CO technologies, reuse of recycled water,...
For this achievements NIC has received acknowledgments and has registered many patents.
A few NIC’S laboratories are focused on environmental issues, ecological issues and for the past few years we have acted strictly according to ISO 9001:2000 quality standards, as well as European Union standards, concerning protection of natural environment and waste utilization. NIC is strongly aware of importance of environment issues; therefore it is involved in several projects. In 2010 NIC received the Eco practice certificate from Umanotera foundation that promotes sustainable development, together with the Green Office acknowledgment. These two certificates are given to the companies that are active in the field of environment protection with internal and external communication how to reduce the environmental damage. NIC has created the Eco group – group of employees that implement the education, ensures that impacts of policies and plans are taken into account and mitigated. In 2012 NIC plans to educate one of employees to become an Eco manager (within the international project European Green Office) to spread awareness on environmental issues even more actively. NIC works on reducing the energy and water consumption and also the CO2 emission reduction and also have a separated waste management paper, plastic, glass, organic bins). NIC is introducing, certifying and continuously improving environmental management systems. Research in some laboratories is complied with ISO quality standards, and in all laboratories with EU regulations, that ensure environmentally friendly acting. We are up to date with the newest changes in production technologies and processes and we are ready to implement more environmental friendly technologies. Most of the NIC’s projects are involved with environmental issues.

NIC raises awerness of employees on environmental protection
NIC performs programmes to reduce waste materials (e.g. recycling) and consumption of resources (energy, fossil fuels, water, electricity, paper, packaging, etc.) and activities aimed at improving the energy efficiency of products, services and processes
NIC develops and diffuses environmentally friendly technologies and also raise awareness among suppliers by asking for the environmental footprint of products or services. NIC has environmental management system to identify, monitor and control the company's environmental performance.

NIC deals with incidents according to standard procedures and inside regulations. NIC has external audits of environmental performance.

• Assessment, policy and goals
• Description of the relevance of anti-corruption for the company (i.e. anti-corruption risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on anti-corruption.
• NIC does not accept bribery as a method of work, neither cooperates with companies and people who accept such practices. NIC is strongly against corruption and does not work with companies with higher risk of corruption. There is anti-corruption policy on a national level. Corruption, extortion and bribery are serious criminal acts. NIC as a public institution is buonded to regulations of public procurements. All purchases are strictly limited with objective criteria which are publicly announced and all decisions are submited to possiblity of complaints of all unchosen applicants to National revision committee whoose decisions are based on very strict rules. Anticoruption clause is part of each contract that NIC signes and breaking of this clause would mean a nullity of a contract.

NIC has suggestion box and grievance mechanisms. Anticoruption clause is part of each contract that NIC signes and breaking of this clause would mean a nullity of a contract.

NIC has provided procedure about how the company deals with incidents of corruption.