It’s not often that we give a thumbs up to a public company with respect to their human rights practices. So here is an interesting exception: Telenor.
The company was founded in 1855 in Norway and has become the leading telecommunications company in that country. In may of 2008, A Danish TV documentary broadcast revealed unacceptable working conditions, pollution and underage labour at the facilities of suppliers to Grameenphone in Bangladesh. In response, the company has drawn up guidelines to ensure its corporate responsibility and that its operations are run in accordance with with ethical standards. After having been informed about the unacceptable conditions, Telenor immediately initiated measures to ensure that required standards are adhered to. Telenor has a 62 per cent stake in Grameenphone. The company has posted the following statement on its web site:
Actions taken in Bangladesh
Immediately after having been informed about these unacceptable conditions, an investigation was initiated by Grameenphone and Telenor. The following steps have been taken:
1. Grameenphone (GP) and Telenor have carried out inspections at the factory premises to the four suppliers appearing in the film, and one additional supplier not mentioned in the film
2. All GP’s suppliers have been requested to ‘show cause’ (i.e. from a legal point of view confirm) that conditions are in accordance with standards specified in the contracts
3. GP’s business connections with vendor Mizan Hatim Engineering have been terminated after our inspections revealed that a boy below the age-limit set for this specific industry was working on the facilities. This supplier failed to show the required willingness to cooperate and implement changes to ensure that activities are performed safely and in line with applicable standards. Clarification of the relationship with the supplier Mizam Hatim
4. Working conditions at the facilities of the four remaining suppliers of mobile antenna towers to Grameenphone will be subject to thorough review. Any required improvements relating to manufacturing or working conditions will be clarified. In addition to this, the right to undertake unannounced inspections is emphasised
5. Telenor is currently reviewing GP’s follow-up and control routines with the aim of implementing required improvements
6. Det Norske Veritas (DNV) has been commissioned to assess and provide counsel relating to working conditions and production standards at the relevant suppliers’ facilities.
Download DNV report (PDF)7. A review of all GP contracts with suppliers is also underway to ensure that other supplier groups comply with existing agreements
Initiated measures for the whole group
Telenor has extended its cooperation with Det Norske Veritas as an advisor to perform mapping and review of HSE standards at relevant supplier to group companies in other markets where Telenor has operations
Based on the results of these reviews, Telenor will take steps to implement relevant initiatives in respect of individual suppliers, framework agreements and follow up procedures
We applaud Telenor for stepping up and taking responsibility for this problem and addressing the issues quickly and in a responsible manner.
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