Communication on Progress

Communication on Progress

Participant
Published
  • 02-Sep-2017
Time period
  • September 2016  –  September 2017
Format
  • Stand alone document – Basic COP Template
Differentiation Level
  • This COP qualifies for the Global Compact Active level
Self-assessment
  • Includes a CEO statement of continued support for the UN Global Compact and its ten principles
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Human Rights
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Labour
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Environment
  • Description of actions or relevant policies related to Anti-Corruption
  • Includes a measurement of outcomes
 
  • Statement of continued support by the Chief Executive Officer

  • Statement of the company's chief executive (CEO or equivalent) expressing continued support for the Global Compact and renewing the company's ongoing commitment to the initiative and its principles.

  • 02 September, 2017.

    I am pleased to confirm that M&E Associates Ltd reaffirms its support to the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour , Environment and Anti-Corruption. In this our first annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to integrate the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We are also committed to share this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

    Yours sincerely,

    Eng. Samuel Sebide Sentongo
    Managing Director
    M&E Associates Ltd.

Human Rights
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of human rights for the company (i.e. human rights risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on Human Rights.

  • M&E Associates Ltd's goal is to influence all our employees and business partners to respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Environmental protection. based on our commitment, we are setting up a code of conduct to be published on our website, to make our position clear to all our suppliers, employees and partners. Our Code of Conduct will comply with the ISO 9001:2008 standards and other international conventions.

  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions to implement Human Rights policies, address Human Rights risks and respond to Human Rights violations.

  • M&E Associates Ltd has taken the following measures to prevent human rights violations in its work locations:
    . A box has been installed in each location for employees to submit complaints and/or issues with regard to unfair treatment. These complaints are reviewed by top management and discussed immediately.
    . A training session will be conducted for all employees to raise the public awareness on human rights issues.
    . A manual on HIV and sexual harassment at the work place has been written and circulated within staff.

  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • Our organization is small and as such has had minimal challenges as far as human relationships are concerned. We will mention that we follow a policy of equal pay for equal work, and compensate staff that go to work out of office in hard to reach areas.

Labour
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of labour rights for the company (i.e. labour rights-related risks and opportunities). Description of written policies, public commitments and company goals on labour rights.

  • Our company is revising the Employee Handbook to incorporate Global Compact values.

  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions taken by the company to implement labour policies, address labour risks and respond to labour violations.

  • We have started on medical insurance for the top management and are exploring cascading this facility.

  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

  • We have registered zero cases of work related injuries.

Environment
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of environmental protection for the company (i.e. environmental risks and opportunities). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on environmental protection.

  • Being mostly office based, the nature of our operations makes the direct environmental impact by the engineering consultancy relatively small. The impact is rather indirect through contractors and suppliers. That enables us to influence the work of our stakeholders in terms of environmental awareness

  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions to implement environmental policies, address environmental risks and respond to environmental incidents.

  • We introduced economic water fittings in all our amenities , and a policy to minimize use of artificial lighting in offices.

  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates environmental performance.

  • We introduced the use of brand new vehicles on all projects that we supervise in order to minimize emissions.

Anti-Corruption
  • Assessment, policy and goals

  • Description of the relevance of anti-corruption for the company (i.e. anti-corruption risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on anti-corruption.

  • M&E Associates Ltd has a zero-tolerance policy for corruption, bribery and extortion. Neither M&E Associates Ltd nor any person associated with the company may offer, pay, promise, authorize or receive any bribe, kick back or other illicit payment. We are committed to continuing to provide education for all level of employees up to management about corruption, as well as what to do if one should encounter it.

  • Implementation

  • Description of concrete actions to implement anti-corruption policies, address anti-corruption risks and respond to incidents.

  • Our transactions are checked by finance and audit departments to ensure compliance and finally endorsed by our CEO.

  • Measurement of outcomes

  • Description of how the company monitors and evaluates anti-corruption performance.

  • M&E Associates Ltd has not been involved in any legal cases, rulings or other events related to corruption or bribery.
    M&E Associates Ltd has an external audit company to do internal audits every year and submit their report directly to the CEO. Our books of accounts are subjected to statutory external audit annually. These audits are used as one of the methods of identifying any suspicious payments which could be related to bribery or corruption behavior. There has been no such incident reported in the period.