ITC Limited
Sustainability Report 2013
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Policies And Guidelines Vision, Mission And Core Values

Human Rights Consideration In Significant Investments

Policy

ITC’s commitment to human rights extends to all its significant investment decisions in order to ensure integration of statutory compliance, environmental, occupational health and safety, human rights and progressive labour policies into business decision-making processes.

Implementation

The custodian of this policy is the Divisional Chief Executive/SBU Head of the concerned Business.

Monitoring & Auditing

The Internal Audit function of ITC conducts periodic checks to ensure that such clauses form part of investment contracts signed during the audit period.

Human Rights Consideration Across the Supply Chain

Policy

ITC endeavours to ensure that all its service providers/vendors incorporate high standards of human rights, safety, health, labour practices and environment in their operations as practiced by the Company.

Implementation

The responsibility for implementation of this policy rests with the Divisional Chief Executive/SBU Head of the concerned Business.

Monitoring & Auditing

The Internal Audit function of ITC conducts periodic audits to ensure that such clauses form part of the investment contracts signed during the audit period.

Prevention of Discrimination at Workplace

Policy

ITC’s approach to its human resources is premised on the fundamental belief of fostering meritocracy in the organisation, which promotes diversity and offers equality of opportunity to all employees. ITC does not engage in or support direct or indirect discrimination in recruitment, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on caste, religion, disability, gender, age, race, colour, ancestry, marital status or affiliation with a political, religious, or union organisation or a minority group.

Implementation

The policy is communicated to all employees through induction programmes, policy manuals and intranet portals. The custodian of this policy is the Divisional Chief Executive or the SBU Head of each Business.

The speedy resolution of formal complaints is premised on the freedom of employees to approach higher officials in case the issue is not settled at the level of his/her immediate superior. The salient features of the issue and steps taken towards its resolution are minuted. For the unionised employees, compliance with the policy is ensured through a robust grievance handling procedure and the presence of a union that is expected to bring violations to the notice of the Unit HR Head.

Monitoring & Auditing

The accountability for the application of this policy rests with the Unit Head who reviews anti-discriminatory complaints annually or on a case-by-case basis. The HR department of the Division/SBU reports annually on incidents of discrimination, if any, to the SBU Head or the Divisional Chief Executive. Corporate Human Resources conducts non-discrimination reviews annually on a sample basis with Unit Heads and through on-site assessments.

Freedom of Association

Policy

ITC respects the employees’ right to organise themselves into interest groups, independent from supervision by the management. In keeping with the spirit of this policy, employees are not discriminated against for exercising this right.

Implementation

The policy is communicated to all employees through induction programmes, policy manuals and intranet portals. The custodian of this policy is the HR Head of each operational unit who reports directly to the Unit Head on such issues. The employees are informed of these rights by the unions who solicit their support to represent them formally before the management.

Monitoring & Auditing

Each ITC Unit has appropriate systems to ensure compliance with the Policy and statutory provisions, including means for filing of grievances, collective bargaining agreements and minutes of worker meetings. The HR department of the concerned Unit submits annual reports to the functional head in cases of identified incidents of violation of freedom of association and collective bargaining. Divisional and Corporate HR regularly monitor compliance with the Policy. Corporate HR compiles these on a half-yearly basis and reports to the Corporate Management Committee.

Prohibition of Child and Forced Labour

Policy

ITC does not employ any person below the age of eighteen years at the workplace. ITC prohibits the use of forced or compulsory labour at all its units. No employee is made to work against his/her will or work as bonded/forced labour, or subject to corporal punishment or coercion of any type related to work.

Implementation

This policy is publicly available throughout the Company and clearly communicated to all employees in a manner in which it can be understood through induction programmes, policy manuals and intranet portals. The workers are informed of these rights by the trade unions active at each unit.

The implementation of the policy is the responsibility of the Unit’s HR Department and the security staff who do not permit minors to enter the factory as workers. Employment contracts and other records, documenting all relevant details of the employees, including age, are maintained at all units and are open to verification by any authorised personnel or relevant statutory body.

The unit provides an annual report on all reported, if any, incidents of child or forced labour to the functional head.

Monitoring & Auditing

Corporate Internal Audit and EHS departments undertake audit and assessment annually. Corporate Human Resources undertakes random checks of records annually.

Prevention of Corruption at Workplace

Policy

All employees of ITC have the obligation to conduct themselves in an honest and ethical manner and act in the best interest of the Company at all times. They are expected to demonstrate exemplary personal conduct. All employees of ITC must avoid situations in which their personal interest could conflict with the interest of the Company. Conflict, if any, must be disclosed to the higher management for guidance and action. All employees must ensure that their actions in the conduct of business are totally transparent.

Implementation

The strong corporate governance process of the Company creates the environment for the formulation of robust internal systems and procedures in a structured manner for the conduct of the Company’s Business. An effective policy for prevention of corruption is actualised through appropriate policies, systems and processes such as the delegated authority structure as per Corporate Governance policies, segregation of duties, tiered approval mechanisms, the involvement of more than one manager in key decisions and maintenance of supporting records.

All ITC managers are provided with adequate training inputs to be aware of the systems and procedures and to ensure compliance.

The custodian of this policy is the Corporate Management Committee, the Divisional Chief Executives/SBU Heads and Heads of departments. A core responsibility of the DMCs is to put in place appropriate control and risk management mechanisms to ensure that businesses are conducted as per the Governance Policy and the Company’s Code of Professional Conduct. The Divisional Chief Executives/SBU Heads provide confirmation of compliance with the laid down systems and procedures.

Monitoring & Auditing

The Company remains committed to ensuring an effective internal control environment that provides assurance on potential risks. ITC’s well-established and robust internal audit processes continuously monitor the adequacy and effectiveness of the internal control environment across the Company. Weaknesses or noncompliance, if any, are identified during the audit process for rectification, thereby providing crucial inputs for continuous improvements in the systems and procedures. Significant issues, if any, are brought to the notice of the Audit Committee together with the progress made for resolution. Confirmations given by the businesses to the Board are independently verified by Internal Audit as per the directions of the Audit Committee.

e-Waste  Management

Objective

ITC’s achievements across all three dimensions of the ‘Triple Bottom Line’ - economic, social and environmental is well known and recognised globally. Being a pioneer in environmentally sustainable operations (e.g Carbon and Water positive , Solid Waste Recycling positive), we need to meet demanding standards of responsible waste management in all aspects of our operations.

ITC’s approach on e-waste is to comply fully with Government of India’s directives as enunciated in the e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011. An internal audit process by Corporate EHS ensures compliance.

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