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Respecting Human Rights
We use our Human Rights Policy as a guide in order to understand, avoid and
address human rights related risks. Our human rights due diligence is the process
by which we embed our policy in our way of working.
Human rights workshops
Renewed Human Rights Policy
Human rights due diligence
Good Governance Platform
Introduction Report of the Executive Board Report of the Supervisory Board
Since 2016, we have been conducting human rights
risks assessments and action planning workshops
in nine of the countries in which we operate across
all regions: Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, South
Africa, Haiti, Ethiopia, Cambodia, UK and Hungary.
We conducted these assessments with the centre of
expertise Shift, the global leading expert on the UN
Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
As a result, we have a better understanding of the
salient human rights risks we face as a company.
The above-listed operating companies have
developed practical and relevant action plans to
address the identified potential human rights risks
for their business.
In 2019, we will hold human rights workshops
in five more markets: Brazil, Jamaica, Indonesia,
East Timor and DRC.
Based on the human rights risks identified with the
centre of expertise Shift, we revised and sharpened
our Human Rights policy, and made it available in
September 2018 to all our operating companies
as part of our refreshed Code of Business Conduct.
Our policy aligns with international standards
including: the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights; the Declaration on Fundamental Principles
and Rights at Work of the International Labour
Organisation (ILO); the Guidelines for Multinational
Enterprises of the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) 2010; and
the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business
and Human Rights.
The 10 standards for human rights set out in our
renewed policy relate to:
1. Health and safety
2. Non-discrimination
3. No harassment and violence
4. Child protection
5. Freedom of association and the right to
collective bargaining
6. No forced labour
7. Rest and leisure
8. Fair wages and income
9. Access to water
10. Respect for human rights in high risk contexts
Financial Statements
Heineken N.V. Annual Report 2018
Sustainability Review
Other Information
In 2019, we will roll out training and a practical
implementation guide of the policy to all our
operating companies. We expect all individuals
working for HEINEKEN (whether directly or through
a third party), suppliers and business partners to
respect human rights in line with our Human Rights
Policy or our Supplier Code.
To strengthen our human rights due diligence
process, we assess and prioritise our human rights
risks, integrate our Human Rights Policy into our
way of working, track implementation of our policy
and report on our progress internally and externally.
To get an outside view, we engage with stakeholders
to gather their feedback and observations.
We are working with the Fair Labor Association
to assess the risk of child labour in the agricultural
value chain in the Korhogo area of Ivory Coast.
The assessment report and recommendations are
expected in 2019.
The HEINEKEN risk control framework helps further
embed respect for human rights in our operations.
Each operating company must check their own
policies and practices against the Human Rights
Policy and implementation guidelines.
In 2017, with input from external stakeholders, we
established an internal cross-functional platform
to address human rights related issues relevant for
the Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe region.
The outcomes of this platform so far include:
A new guidance for operating companies on
how to conduct business and operate in volatile
environments, with the support of Shift, will be
rolled out in 2019;
Independent audits of our outsourcing practices
across Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe
were performed by not-for-profit social enterprise,
Partner Africa. The outcomes will enable us to
address areas for improvement and strengthen our
guidelines for outsourcing decisions.
An independent study of sorghum sourcing in
Nigeria was conducted by the African Studies
Centre at Leiden University to better understand its
positive and potential negative impacts. Results are
expected in the first half of 2019.
Two external stakeholder roundtables engaging
with NGOs and academics to review and improve
our Economic Assessment methodology took place.
For more details on our Human Rights Policy, actions and governance,
see our website.
