BMW 2009 Annual Report Download - page 160

158
140 Statement on
Corporate Governance
(Sub-section of Management Report)
140 Information on the Company’s
Governing Constitution
141 Declaration of the Board of
Management and of the Supervisory
Board pursuant to § 161 AktG
142 Members of the Supervisory Board
145
Members of the Board of
Management
146 Information on Work Procedures of
the Management Board and
Supervisory Board
151 Compensation Report
157 Information on Corporate
Governance Practices
158 Compliance in the BMW Group
The solutions agreed upon will then be consistently imple-
mented by all those involved.
Respect, trust, fairness
We treat each other with respect. Leadership is based on
mutual trust. Trust is rooted in fairness and reliability.
Employees
People make companies. Our employees are the strongest
factor in our success, which means our personnel decisions
will be amongst the most important we ever make.
Leading by example
Every manager must lead by example.
Sustainability
In our view, sustainability constitutes a lasting contribution
to the success of the company. This is the basis upon which
we assume ecological and social responsibility.
Society
Social responsibility is an integral part of our corporate self-
image.
Independence
We secure the corporate independence of the BMW Group
through sustained profitable growth.
The core principles are also available at www.bmwgroup.
com
under the menu items “Responsibility” and “Em-
ployees”.
Social responsibility towards employees and
along the supplier chain
Questions relating to the issue of corporate social respon-
sibility are raised with each new day. The corporate culture
of the BMW Group combines the drive to be successful
with a will to be open-minded, trusting and transparent.
The BMW Group is very much aware of its responsibilities
towards society. The BMW Group’s models for sustainable
social responsibility towards employees and for ensuring
compliance with international social standards are based
on various internationally recognised guidelines. The BMW
Group is committed to adhering to the OECD’s guidelines
for multinational companies and the contents of the ICC
Business Charter for Sustainable Development. Details of
the contents of these guidelines and other relevant informa-
tion
can be found at www.oecd.org and www.iccwbo.org.
The Board of Management signed the United Nations
Global Compact in 2001 and, in 2005, in conjunction with
employee representatives, issued a Joint Declaration on
Human Rights and Working Conditions in the BMW Group.
With these two documents, we have given our commit-
ment to abide worldwide by the International Labour Or-
ganization’s (ILO) fundamental working standards, princi-
ples and labour rights. The most important of these are
freedom of employment, the prohibition of discrimination,
the prohibition of child labour, the right to appropriate re-
muneration, regulated working times and compliance with
work and safety regulations. The complete text of the UN
Global Compact and the recommendations of the ILO and
other relevant information can be found at www.unglobal-
compact.org and www.ilo.org; the Joint Declaration on
Human Rights and Working Conditions in the BMW Group
can be found at www.bmwgroup.com under the menu
item “Responsibility”.
It goes without saying that the BMW Group abides by
these fundamental principles and rights worldwide. Activi-
ties can only be sustainable, however, if they encompass
the entire value-added chain. That is why the BMW Group
not only makes high demands of itself but also expects its
suppliers and partners to meet the ecological and social
standards it sets. The relevant sustainability criteria there-
fore play an integral part in all aspects of purchasing terms
and conditions. Potential suppliers must submit a full dis-
closure when completing BMW’s sustainability question-
naire, an inherent component of the acceptance procedure
for potential new suppliers. The BMW Group also insists
that its suppliers ensure that their sub-contractors comply
with set standards. Purchasing terms and conditions and
other information relating to purchasing can be found in
the publicly available section of the BMW Group Partner
Portal at https://b2b.bmw.com.
Compliance in the BMW Group
Responsible and lawful conduct is fundamental to the
success of the BMW Group. This approach is an integral
part of our corporate culture and is the reason why cus-
tomers, shareholders, business partners and the general
public place their trust in us. The Board of Management
and the employees of the BMW Group are obliged to act
responsibly and in compliance with applicable laws and
regulations.
This principle has been embedded in BMW ’s internal
“Rules of Conduct” for many years now. In order to ensure
protection against compliance-related and reputational