24 April, 2008The IMF signs an International Framework Agreement with the Vallourec Group.
FRANCE: Vallourec, a world market leader in the field of seamless tubes, on April 9 signed an "Agreement on the principles of responsibility" with the Vallourec European Works Council and the IMF.
The agreement states:
- Wherever the Group is located, Vallourec applies the international conventions and national laws and respects the national cultures and local customs.
- In its position as a company of international standing, Vallourec aims in particular to respect human rights and the universal fundamental principles that protect the dignity, respect and liberty of the employees.
An annex to the agreement specifies the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation covered by the agreement. The conventions included cover areas such as the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, no forced labour, no child labour and the right to equal remuneration and no discrimination.
The agreement also states that, "Vallourec demands the observance of these fundamental rights from its suppliers and sub-contractors, and integrates these criteria into its evaluations."
To monitor the agreement it is agreed that the General Management shall report annually to the European Workers Council on complaints received during the year and the corresponding measures taken.
The Vallourec Group supplies tubes to the oil and gas, power generation, mechanical engineering, petrochemical, automotive and steel architecture sectors. Head quartered in France, Vallourec employs 18,000 people and has plants in Asia, Europe, North America and Latin America.
A copy of the agreement in English, French and German is available on the IMF website.