Volkswagen’s Business & Human Rights Commitment
Respecting human rights is a non-negotiable priority in the Volkswagen Group. We have to act ethically and with integrity to ensure we have sustainable economic operations. We are fully committed to our responsibility for protecting human rights in the context of our business, and honour this commitment by complying with the relevant international conventions and declarations, in particular the International Human Rights Charter and the core labour standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
As VWSA and the greater Volkswagen Group, we strive to claim a leading role in the automotive industry when it comes to corporate respect for human rights. There is a long tradition of social sustainability within the Volkswagen Group; this means we prioritise fair practices in the following aspects of our business:
Further reading:
Our commitment to human rights in the context of our business is outlined in more detail in the following documents:
- Code of Conduct: An entire chapter of the Code of Conduct is dedicated to the topics of human rights, equal opportunity and equal treatment, and how each employee must act in order to protect these rights. All employees receive regular, mandatory training on the Code of Conduct
- The Declaration on Social Rights by the Volkswagen Group: this document stipulates the binding principles for the Group’s social and industrial relations, both internally and with business partners
- The Code of Conduct for Business Partners: In this document, the company formulates its expectations for its business partners, of which the protection of human and employment rights are central requirements. These expectations are emphasised in the Code of Conduct training provided to Business Partners