Communication on Progress

2011 Communication on Progress

Participant
Format
  • Stand alone document – Basic COP Template
Self-assessment
  • Includes a CEO statement of continued support for the UN Global Compact and its ten principles
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Human Rights
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Labour
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Environment
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Anti-Corruption
  • Includes a measurement of outcomes
 
  • Statement of continued support by the Chief Executive Officer

  • Statement of the company's chief executive (CEO or equivalent) expressing continued support for the Global Compact and renewing the company's ongoing commitment to the initiative and its principles.

  • TruTeq's main market is Africa. Doing ethical business on the Mother Continent is challenging as corruption is rife.

    Africa's rebirth is dependent on the development of efficient markets but corruption is the largest single obstacle to this. With Africa's development being close to our hearts, we have to make our position clear.

    TruTeq's participation in the Global Compact centres around the fight against corruption. Even though the other nine principles are extremely important, there can be no debate about the fair treatment of workers if there is no work. Human rights hinge upon economic freedom as much as political freedom.

    Our participation in the Global Compact is one of the first facts about TruTeq that we present in our business dealings. It leaves our customers and potential customers with no doubt about what we will and won't do. For this reason, we are as committed as ever in playing our small part in the Global Compact.

Human Rights
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of human rights for the company (i.e. human rights risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on Human Rights.

  • No answer provided.
  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions to implement Human Rights policies, address Human Rights risks and respond to Human Rights violations.

  • No answer provided.
  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • No answer provided.
Labour
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of labour rights for the company (i.e. labour rights-related risks and opportunities). Description of written policies, public commitments and company goals on labour rights.

  • No answer provided.
  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions taken by the company to implement labour policies, address labour risks and respond to labour violations.

  • No answer provided.
  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • No answer provided.
Environment
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of environmental protection for the company (i.e. environmental risks and opportunities). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on environmental protection.

  • No answer provided.
  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions to implement environmental policies, address environmental risks and respond to environmental incidents.

  • No answer provided.
  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates environmental performance.

  • No answer provided.
Anti-Corruption
  • 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.

  • TruTeq's policy on corruption is simple: We will never pay a bribe to win a contract for work.

  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions to implement anti-corruption policies, address anti-corruption risks and respond to incidents.

  • Corruption is an incredibly difficult problem to deal with in practice. It is not always clear who the complicit parties are and reporting corruption is therefore fraught with risk.

    In our normal scope of work, most of our business is won through existing customers, but we also respond to tenders.

    The following phrase is contained in our responses to tenders:
    "We are part of the United Nations Global Compact that subscribes to ten principles including human rights and anti-corruption. As a company policy, we always report corruption – even if it means that we will lose a deal."

  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates anti-corruption performance.

  • Measurable outcomes are not possible. What we can report, is that the levels of corruption have deepened and the problem is definitely becoming worse.

    There are very large and well-known companies winning business in Africa with questionable methods. Competing against them with better products and lower prices is very difficult. Naming them will result in legal repercussions that a small company can ill afford.

    The best we can do is to make it clear from the outset that we will not pay a bribe to win a deal.