25 Feb 2021

H.E. António Guterres Secretary-
General United Nations
New York, NY 10017
USA

Dear Mr. Secretary-General,

I am pleased to confirm that Avalon Information Systems Pvt. Ltd. supports the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. With this communication, we express our intent to implement those principles. We are committed to making the UN Global Compact and its principles part of the strategy, culture and day-to-day operations of our company, and to engaging in collaborative projects which advance the broader development goals of the United Nations, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals. Avalon Information Systems Pvt. Ltd. will make a clear statement of this commitment to our stakeholders and the general public. We recognize that a key requirement for participation in the UN Global Compact is the annual submission of a Communication on Progress (COP) that describes our company’s efforts to implement the Ten Principles. We support public accountability and transparency, and therefore commit to report on progress within one year of joining the UN Global Compact, and annually thereafter according to the UN Global Compact COP policy.
This includes:

Compact COP policy. This includes:
A statement signed by the chief executive expressing continued support for the UN Global Compact and renewing our ongoing commitment to the initiative and its principles. This is separate from our initial letter of commitment to join the UN Global Compact.
A description of practical actions (i.e., disclosure of any relevant policies, procedures, activities) that the company has taken (or plans to undertake) to implement the UN Global Compact principles in each of the four issue areas (human rights, labour, environment, anti-corruption).
A measurement of outcomes (i.e., the degree to which targets/performance indicators were met, or other qualitative or quantitative measurements of results).

Sincerely yours,

Name: Rahul Dev
Designation: MD & CEO
Location: New Delhi
Date: 25 Feb 2021
Company ID: U2200DL2006PTC156665

Avalon strives to ensure workers are provided safe, suitable and sanitary work facilities. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the way we work. Since March 2020, the office has been closed and the staff has been operating virtually in a safe environment.

After work hours, the office provides taxi services to drop the staff at the nearest public conveyance area. Should any staff stay back to work overtime, a cab is arranged for the employee to be dropped at his/her doorstep.

The Human Resources Team (HR) monitors very closely the workplace environment for any case of harassment of any sort. With the staff working remotely, the HR team has been very regularly in contact with the team members to ensure that they were physically and mentally healthy. Moreover, through monthly virtual staff meetings, updates would be shared and safety guidelines reiterated.

Outcomes:
There have been no incidents of human rights abuses associated with the company during the reporting year, and no complaints or grievances lodged.

Avalon supports the core conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the relevant labor legislation prevailing in the country.

Avalon operates a comprehensive human resources department and maintains policies clearly stating employee rights and responsibilities, compensation and benefits. Alongside a detailed HR operating manual, employees are issued with an employee handbook outlining their rights and responsibilities, including code of conduct, terms and conditions of employment, benefits, disciplinary procedures, performance reviews and the company grievance procedure.

Avalon maintains a dedicated recruitment and selection process that ensures all applicants are above the legal age of 18 years old, and are not discriminated based on age, religion, race, or gender. This year less recruitment has taken place due to the pandemic.

Equitable workplace in terms of pay scale, well aware of the labour policies linked to regular appraisal and their career pathways. The organization’s equitable hiring practices have resulted in more gender balance in the workforce. In a traditionally male dominated field, the organization has made strides to achieve better balance through the identification and hiring of more female staff.

Avalon supports a precautionary approach to environmental challenges and undertakes initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility. The company encourages the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly practices.

Avalon encourages workplace behaviour that promotes care towards the environment by:
Encouraging the employees to bring their cups to avoid the unnecessary use of disposable cups (these have been banned within the organization).
Providing filtered water to prevent individual plastic mineral water bottles.
Using double-sided printing wherever possible.
Progressing towards a culture of a paperless work office, whenever possible, in the day-to-day operations.
Switching to LED light bulbs
Switching off lights, air-conditioning whenever the staff leaves the office premises.

With the staff working remotely most of 2020, the office space has not been operational. Hence, our consumption of electricity, water has been extremely low. Percentage of waste in terns of paper cups, paper napkins, paper has also been very low.
Avalon has a zero tolerance for corruption. Company policy prohibits bribes and facilitation payments of any kind and the company believes it is important for the organization to play a major role in identifying and eradicating corrupt business practices.

Avalon is committed to maintaining the highest standards of honesty, openness and financial accountability.

Avalon has a zero tolerance for corruption. Company policy prohibits bribes and facilitation payments of any kind and the company believes it is important for the organization to play a major role in identifying and eradicating corrupt business practices.

Our project administrators handle projects and are ambassadors of the values we treasure.
When new staffs are hired, they are provided orientation and a safe work environment; they are strongly encouraged to report any suspected wrongdoing to the management.