Exxaro is committed to respecting and protecting the human rights of all employees and stakeholders. It’s not only a legal and moral obligation but one that supports our purpose “to power better lives in Africa and beyond”. That’s why, as part of Exxaro’s commitment to upholding human rights for all people in its sphere of influence, the business developed its Human Rights Policy, which was adopted by the Board and CEO, Dr Nombasa in December 2022. Fundamental to this is making sure that all people have inherent fundamental human rights, regardless of their role, rank or differences.
Exxaro’s Human Rights Policy is aligned to:
- The South African Constitution and legislation;
- The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights;
- The International Labour Organisation’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
On a practical level, Exxaro is committed to:
- Avoiding, causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts through its own activities.
- Responding to/addressing such impacts, should they occur.
- Identifying ways to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impacts that are directly linked to our operations, products, or services around its business
conduct and relationships.
The Exxaro Human Rights Policy has identified eight key areas of impact to focus on:
- Governance and ethics
- Equal opportunities / nondiscrimination and transformation
- Human rights in the workplace
- Safe and healthy work environment
- Respect for all communities
- Security and human rights
- Environmental management and conservation
- Land use and resettlements
Want to know how you can #PlayYourPart in upholding Human Rights in your area of work?
Access the full Policy on the Governance page of our website: www.exxaro.com
10 QUESTIONS
FOR EXXARO’S NEW CHIEF ETHICS OFFICER
Exxaro recently welcomed Rendani Nematswerani as our new Chief Ethics Officer, making sure we continue to build an ethical culture to support the success and sustainability of our business.
What does a Chief Ethics Officer actually do?
Part of my portfolio is to lead, manage and implement the Ethics strategy of the organisation. The other is to provide advice, support and training internally to continuously enhance and improve the ethical performance and culture of an organisation.
What do we mean by ethics in a
company like Exxaro?
“Doing things right even when no one
is watching”.
What role does ethics play in a company like Exxaro?
Ethics plays an important role in driving the culture of an organisation and in return the culture drives the business, which in return attracts more investors.
What happens when a company does not maintain a high ethical standard?
All systems fail. The company will lose its credibility and its reputation will be affected. Also the penalties that could be imposed by regulatory bodies can result in significant financial losses for the organisation.
What role do employees have in helping to build an ethical company?
We are all part of building the brand in an ethical manner. Managers have the responsibility to establish and maintain an environment that encourages employees to come forward and raise important issues. Employees must trust that when unethical conduct is observed, they can report it to the appropriate channels, without fear of retaliation.
What do you most look forward to about your new role?
That everyone in Exxaro breathes and lives the ethics culture, including the service providers doing business with us.
What is the best part about your job?
I enjoy engaging with my colleagues, listening to their views about ethics and, where necessary, providing guidance on ethics related topics. I also enjoy doing Ethics and Awareness training, especially the interactive engagement that I have with colleagues.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
When employees are subjected to investigations.
How does ethical behaviour contribute to Exxaro’s success:
- Good ethical business attracts investors.
- Companies with good ethics foster good relationships with the communities they operate in.
- Employees feel free to speak up without fear of any intimidation or retaliation.
- Ethics is the key to enhancing productivity, which helps create a positive image in the marketplace. This, in turn, makes customers and other stakeholders trust your products and services.
What do you hope to achieve in the next year?
What is important for me is to make sure that some exciting stuff comes as a surprise and that employees are always part of the journey. So, watch this space!
<
>