"International agreement on fundamental employee rights Siemens reaffirmed its commitment to fundamental employee rights in an international framework agreement signed with employee representatives and trade unions in 2012. It includes clauses on the elimination of forced labor, the prohibition of discrimination, the right to equal treatment, the abolition of child labor and the definition of a minimum age for employment, the right tocollective bargaining, and freedom of association."
"2.4 Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining The right of employees to form labour unions, join existing labour unions and conduct collective negotiations, is acknowledged. Members of employee organizations or unions will be neither advantaged nor disadvantaged on account of their membership (see principles of ILO Conventions 87 and 98). A constructive approach will be taken to cooperation with employees, em ployee representatives and unions on the basis of local law. Even in contentious disputes, the continuing objective will be to maintain effective constructive cooperation and to seek solutions with the aim of balancing our commercial interests and the interest of our employees. If the level of protection granted to employees in a country in which Siemens operates fails essentially to reflect these principles, Siemens will nevertheless apply these hi gher standards to its employees. Employee representatives must be protected against any form of prejudicial treatment."