ICEM Signs Global Agreement with French-based Lafarge

By ICEM

The ICEM signed its first Global Framework Agreement in the Materials Sector--a social responsibility code of behaviour with French-based Lafarge, a building materials manufacturer.

The agreement was signed in Paris jointly with the global union federation International Federation of Building and Wood Workers (IFBWW), and the World Federation of Building and Woodworkers Unions (WFBWU), a Christian labour federation.

The Global Agreement marks ICEM's twelfth such international code of standards contract with a multinational enterprise, and the second that has been jointly signed with another global union federation.

"We welcome Lafarge's commitment to uphold high principles of social responsibility in all global operations, whether it's on workers' rights, union recognition, environment, health and safety, or other recognised international work standards," stated ICEM General Secretary Fred Higgs.

IFBWW General Secretary Anita Normark also welcomed the commitment of Lafarge to apply international labour standards at all worksites worldwide. "The value added of the agreement with Lafarge must be seen, that the three federations have a global network of trade unions which are able to monitor the agreement," said Normark.

"Lafarge is convinced that there can be no sustainable economic success without progress in the fields of social responsibility and environmental protection," said Christian Herrault, the company's Executive Vice President for Human Resources and Organisation. "Consequently, this broader vision which goes beyond economic factors to embrace human, labour and environmental aspects has been built into our programmes underpinning performance and managerial processes."

Herrault added that Lafarge "has consistently valued the central role played by its workforce within the company and signature of this agreement represents a further step forward in our ongoing dialogue with staff."