The CEOs of BP, Equinor, Shell and Total say they’re joining forces to create a “collaborative approach to human rights supplier assessments in the energy industry”.
The participating companies say they recognise the importance of working with suppliers that respect human rights. Doing so, they claim, aligns them with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This includes the fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Industry framework
The objective of this initiative is to create an “industry framework for human rights supplier assessments”. An independent third party will share the results of any assessments with the participating companies. The companies say they’re currently working to establish the assessment criteria and precise sharing mechanism.
The goal is to make it easier and more efficient for suppliers to demonstrate how they respect human rights and care for their people. The purpose of the sharing mechanism is to help the companies improve working conditions throughout their supply chains.
‘Decent work for all’
As members of the UN Global Compact, BP, Equinor, Shell and Total say they believe this initiative supports the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 8. This is to: “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”.
The initiative does not include collaboration on the selection of suppliers. This will continue to remain the independent decision of each participant.
The four initiators of this collaboration – BP, Equinor, Shell and Total – say they invite other companies in the energy industry to join them.
