It is indisputable that businesses have a responsibility to protect and advance the human rights of their workforce. The introduction of the UN Human Rights Council’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (pdf) has done much to set a global standard for preventing and addressing the risk of adverse impacts on human rights linked to business activity.
However, while the human rights responsibilities of companies might now be well codified, the precise implications for an individual business such as Anglo American are diverse and complex. Human rights are commonly represented in terms of advancing civil rights or the promotion of justice. For businesses, however, human rights intersect with the broader issues of corporate responsibility and social licence to operate - from adherence to anti-corruption laws, to respect for labour rights and responsible safety and environmental policies.
Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December and provides a moment to re-focus corporate discussions on the topic. As a board member at Anglo American and an advisor to Shift - an independent, non-profit centre for business and human rights practice - I believe that I and fellow board directors have a responsibility to lead and set the tone for the company’s approach to human rights, most importantly by advocating from the top. Leadership is particularly important as we go through periods of great change.
Putting people first
Protecting human rights starts from the same place as our values of safety, care and respect – it means putting people first. This is not only the right thing to do, it is also the foundation of risk management and business continuity.
Responsible mining companies have developed an acute understanding of the business case for human rights. The nature of mining brings inherent risks. These risks must be constantly mitigated and managed to ensure that people are protected, while also fulfilling the industry’s purpose to provide metals and minerals, which are relied upon globally, in all our daily lives.
At Anglo American we are committed to being partners in the future, operating safely, sustainably and responsibly. We have a policy of “zero harm” that frames all aspects of our approach to safety in the workplace.
However, our responsibility to our stakeholders goes further than protecting their health and safety. For example, we must respect core labour rights, such as the right to join trade unions, and we must respect the rights of host communities and give them fair means to seek redress where necessary, such as through our complaints and grievance procedures. We also provide extensive healthcare support, including for the management of chronic diseases such as HIV and TB, offering all our permanent employees and their dependants access to free treatment and, in most cases, subsidised health insurance. We are even helping employees who find themselves in excessive debt because of the actions of unscrupulous lenders. In many of these cases, such as with employee indebtedness, we are working to protect and promote the rights of our employees and other stakeholders, including those beyond the workplace.
Respecting and protecting human rights must be built into everything an organisation does. Integrating this effectively means engaging with management to ensure the approach is embedded across all operations. Leadership must drive this, overseeing a coherent approach, based on a rights-respecting culture. The board must shine a spotlight on the issue and be alert to identifying and mitigating human rights risks, particularly as business strategy evolves.
There are also operational, financial, legal and reputational risks attached to human rights abuses. However, protecting human rights must be driven by our values, not financial calculation. With this approach, business will continue to be a force for good.
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Dr Mphu Ramatlapeng is a board member at Anglo American. She is the executive vice president of HIV/Aids and tuberculosis programmes for the Clinton Health Access Initiative and also the vice chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. She served as minister of health and social welfare of Lesotho between 2007 and 2012.
Dr Ramatlapeng has joined an expert advisory group convened by the NGO Shift for a project that is developing guidance on human rights for UK board directors.
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