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Human Rights Policy
At Endesa we are committed to supporting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Respect for Human Rights is one of the principles on which we base our activities in all the countries and territories in which we operate.
Endesa Human rights policy
Endesa is dedicated to upholding and advancing human rights on a permanent basis. This commitment is demonstrated through its adherence to the United Nations Global Compact in 2002, its alignment with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and its corporate policies, such as the Human Rights Policy that incorporates support and respect for the protection of human rights and non-complicity in their violation within its first two principles.
Moreover, Endesa has been at the forefront of developing activities to guarantee the respect of human rights in its operations and those of its supply chain, consistently implementing processes to identify risks and potential impacts on human rights.
Following the approval of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Endesa formally decided to align its longstanding commitment to respecting and promoting human rights with this new framework by integrating it into its business operations management.
Endesa's pioneering Human Rights Policy was approved on February 5, 2013, and updated and re-approved by the Board of Directors on 21 December 2021. This Human Rights Policy follows the recommendations established by the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and it reflects Endesa's commitment and responsibilities regarding all human rights.
The policy aims to create sustainable value across the entire value chain of business activities and operations conducted by Endesa employees, including both executives and staff members. It outlines commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals as a framework to mitigate risks of human rights violations, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable stakeholders, such as individuals with disabilities, children, the elderly, and indigenous and tribal communities.
The Company encourages its contractors, suppliers and commercial partners to embrace the same principles, focusing on situations involving conflict or carrying high risk. The content of this policy is shaped by a multi-stakeholder consultation process involving various areas of the company - CSR, Human Resources, Legal, Purchasing, Audit, Risk Management, etc. - and significant international experts.
The policy consists of 12 principles covering two major areas: employment practices, communities and society. These principles are inspired by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in relation to human and social rights, and have been examined by independent experts.
Endesa Human rights policy
Labour practices
● Prohibition of forced or compulsory labour and child labour.
● Respect for diversity and non-discrimination.
● Freedom of association and collective bargaining.
● Health, safety, and well-being.
● Fair and favourable working conditions.
Communities and society
● Environment.
● Upholding the rights of communities.
● Upholding the rights of local communities.
● Upholding the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples.
● Integrity: zero tolerance for corruption.
● Confidentiality.
● Communication.
The Human Rights Policy states that if any individual associated with Endesa, whether an employee or an external person, believes that there is a situation contrary to what is outlined in the policy, they may report it through the following mechanisms:
- Through the Information Channel of the Internal Whistleblower Protection System that the company makes available to all its stakeholders on its website or, in the case of Endesa employees, also through the company's intranet.
- By email to the Endesa ethical mailbox: eticaycumplimiento@endesa.es
- By post, to the following address: Endesa, S.A. Dirección General de Auditoría. Ribera del Loira, 60 - 28042 Madrid.
When dealing with these communications, the Audit department will strive to safeguard the informants from any type of reprisal, which is defined as any action that could lead to mere suspicion that the individual in question may be subjected to any form of discrimination or punishment. Moreover, the anonymity of the sources will be protected, unless specified otherwise in the relevant legislation.
Human rights due diligence by Endesa.
In 2023, Endesa carries out its third human rights due diligence process to assess the level of compliance with its policy and the Guiding Principles. Additionally, this year includes measures aimed at responding to what will be the new European Directive on due diligence in Sustainability matters.
The process has encompassed all of Endesa's business activity in Spain and Portugal, including electricity generation, distribution, and commercialization activities, as well as the value chain, asset procurement processes, and corporate functions.
The due diligence methodology thoroughly reviews the alignment of Endesa's activities, on one hand, with the guiding principles that affect the company as a whole, and on the other hand, with the principles of its Human Rights Policy, encompassing all company activities and stakeholders.
Endesa includes employees by focusing on labour unions, women, migrant workers, minors, and people with disabilities. By making it extensible to the value chain, suppliers, contractors, and local communities in the operating areas are also analysed. Due to the overall relevance of this stakeholder group, indigenous communities are also included in the due diligence analysis. However, based on the company's operational scope, it was identified in the preliminary analysis that this issue has limited and residual materiality within the value chain.
The process has involved the following stages:
- Assessment of human rights in the context where operations are carried out to identify potential risks associated with it. This assessment has been completed with a focus on the company's sector of activity.
- Evaluation of the actual and potential impacts of Endesa's activity on human rights.
- Development of an action plan in order to minimise the assessed potential impacts.
- Communication of the results in a detailed manner through the Non-Financial Information Statement and ESG indices.
The entire process is under the supervision of the Sustainability and Corporate Governance Committee (CSGC) of the Board of Directors and the Human Rights Policy itself determines that it be carried out every three years, in order to review and evaluate both the potential risks that may arise in the operating context, as well as the potential impacts that Endesa's activity may generate.
1. Context analysis
● Identifying human rights risks for Endesa related to its geographic location, with a specific focus on the sector.
o Document analysis.
o Interviews with GDI and experts.
o Surveys to GDI and experts.
2. Assessment of potential impacts
● Identifying potential human rights impacts resulting from Endesa's activities throughout its value chain.
o DG Interviews
o GDI Interviews
o Questionnaires responsible areas.
3. Action plan
● Each department takes steps to minimise risks and impacts.
o Design of an Action Plan.
4. Publicising results
● Detailed integration of the Due Diligence process in the Sustainability report.
o EINF.
o ESG index.