Ford confirms its support of the U.N.’s Global Compact and its commitment to human rights issues.
DEARBORN, Mich., May 6, 2008 – Ford Motor Company is reinforcing its commitment to human and labor rights with its participation as the only automaker invited to participate in the United Nations Global Compact’s Working Group led by the U.N.’s Secretary-General’s Special Representative for business and human rights.
Launched by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 2000, the Global Compact is a voluntary initiative to promote responsible corporate citizenship and provide innovative and practical solutions to the challenges of globalization. The Global Compact consists of 10 universal practices in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption that participating companies, industry associations, academic institutions and civil society groups agree to support.
"We welcome Ford's participation in the Global Compact," said Georg Kell, executive director, Global Compact Office. "It sends a strong signal to manufacturers everywhere that environmental and social issues are material to the long-term performance and viability of business. We look forward to working with Ford."
Ford is leading an effort to apply a common approach to the global supply chain in the auto industry. Since the inception of its Supply Chain Sustainability program in 2003, the company has focused efforts beyond simply assessing individual suppliers by developing factory and corporate level training, which encourages supplier ownership of working conditions in both their own operations and their supply chains. Ford has provided all internally developed materials to automotive companies through an industry forum in order to promote a consistent approach to human and labor rights management throughout the automotive supply chain.
“Ford is taking its corporate social responsibility and human rights commitments to another level by joining the Global Compact,” said Sue Cischke, senior vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. “While Ford has long recognized the importance of human rights, it became a key part of our sustainability strategy in 2000.”
Ford adopted the Code of Basic Working Conditions in 2003, which articulates the company’s commitments on key human and labor rights issues, and provides the foundation for the company’s efforts in this area. The company has also developed a range of processes to ensure that its own operations and those of its suppliers are adhering to the Code, which became a formal company policy.
“For Ford, human rights means ensuring that our products, no matter where they are made, are manufactured under conditions that demonstrate respect for the people who make them,” said Tony Brown, group vice president, Global Purchasing. “It also means respecting the rights of people living in the communities around our facilities and those of our suppliers who may be affected by these operations.”
Ford’s Global Terms and Conditions – the company’s core contract covering all suppliers – prohibits the use of forced labor, child labor and physical disciplinary abuse in addition to requiring strict compliance with all local laws pertaining to labor requirements. These contractual terms extend to the use of sub-contractors as well. At times, Ford standards may exceed local law.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 244,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda, and until completion of their sale, Jaguar Land Rover. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.