OUR CORPORATE GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK

Our Board, Management Committee and executive leadership’s oversight play a significant role in anchoring and executing transparent business practices across our operations. We have a three-tier sustainability governance structure, which provides a focused oversight over our Company’s policies, initiatives, risks and sustainability matters. Our Board of Directors is actively involved in our business activities and ensures that we remain true to the ethos of our corporate governance.

ETHICAL BUSINESS CONDUCT

Our business ethics and Code of Conduct lay the foundation for ethical practices that are abided by Hindustan Zinc’s management, employees, partners, contractors and other stakeholders. It is aligned with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and UK Bribery Act, 2010. The Code guides our behaviour and helps us promote honest and ethical conduct, the ethical handling of any conflicts of interest and complete and timely disclosures, among others.

Accountability for Adherence to this Code

All the Board members, executives and new employees annually affirm compliance with the Code. An Ethics Committee has been constituted to orient and address the principles and standards.

Anti-bribery and Anti-corruption

We conduct all our business transactions in a fair and transparent manner. All our employees and business partners are trained and made aware of the core tenets of our Code of Conduct. This is to ensure that there is no undue monetary or facilitation payment made at any stage along the value chain to any person or persons, including public officials, customers or to any other organisation, in an illicit manner.

Whistle-blower Policy

We encourage and empower our employees to raise concerns about any unfair business dealing, through our Whistle-blower Policy. We safeguard the whistle-blower by keeping his or her identity confidential. The Group Head – Management Assurance is responsible for addressing all complaints raised and ensures an in-depth investigation of the same. The report for complaint resolution is then shared with the Audit Committee for review. Further, to encourage safety practices, we have established a special ‘whistle-blower portal for safety’. We have successfully leveraged technology to provide a three-click registration of a complaint via mobile application.

Our Approach to Human Rights

Respect for human rights is critical to the way we operate and impacts our employees through labour rights and community rights across our supply chain. Our Human Rights Policy is aligned with the UN’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and includes strict prohibition of child or forced labour either directly or through contract labour. Additionally, our business ethics and Code of Conduct underpins our approach to protecting the fundamental rights of all our direct and indirect employees, communities and immediate supply chain. Both the Code and the Policy clearly communicate our expectations to our business partners to comply with all relevant legislation and follow our policies while executing work for Hindustan Zinc, or on our behalf.

Slavery and Human Trafficking

As per the disclosure obligations under the UK Modern Slavery Act, 2015, we ensure that modern-day slavery does not prevail in our business and supply chain. We monitor stringently to ensure our contractors, suppliers and business partners do not use any child, forced or trafficked labour.

During FY 2019-20, there were no known reported legal cases on anti-competitive behaviour, anti-trust and monopoly practices.