(6 OECD Guidelines | UNGPs 22, 29, 30 and 31)
Lastly, concerning enforcement mechanisms, the Ethics Committee is a specialised body tasked with impartially and independently monitoring the disclosure of and compliance with the Code of Conduct and the Anti-Corruption Policy of all the Group’s Companies.
In accordance with the Whistleblowing Policy approved by the Company, the Ethics Committee provides a digital platform (available at www.jeronimomartins.com and at ethicscommittee.jeronimomartins.com) for the confidential reporting, anonymously if desired, of wrongdoing. For more information about the handling of complaints and resolution rate, see “Consumers and end-users”.
We also have four Ethics Offices in Portugal, two in Poland and one in Slovakia. These Ethics Offices are independent reporting channels which, together with the Ethics Committee, are responsible for ensuring the receipt and follow-up of reports of any wrongdoing related to the Companies, submitted by any concerned stakeholder. The Ethics Committee and Ethics Offices follow the principles of independence, impartiality, integrity, confidentiality and absence of conflicts of interest.
There are other bodies that receive and investigate reports about specific issues: the Anti-Mobbing, Anti-Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Committee, formed whenever there is a complaint involving these matters in Poland, and the Committee for Labour Co-existence in Colombia, which investigates reports relating to working conditions or other work-related issues.
Employees also have the Employee Assistance Service (SAC) available to them to report, ask questions about and resolve labour-related issues, and to receive and forward requests for social support. This channel ensures confidentiality, independence and impartiality, thereby safeguarding employees against any retaliation, discrimination and/or loss of rights.
We are currently tightening up our human rights’ due diligence process in line with the OECD recommendations and EU law related to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, as well as on preventing and combating corruption, in compliance with the applicable legal framework.