21 June 2015

To our stakeholders:

I am pleased to confirm that Banka BioLoo Pvt Ltd reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption.

In this annual Communication on Progress, we describe our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles into our business strategy, culture and daily operations. We also commit to share this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.

Sincerely yours,
Sanjay Banka
Managing Director

We support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or other international standards and we commit to including these in our day-to-day activities.

The company respects Human Rights and prevents potential abuses (e.g. in code of conduct), by incorporating in our practices.

Child labour is not deployed in our tasks.

We ensure that everyone is treated fairly and equitably, and gender aspects are recognized and respected.

In the coming year, we shall continue to respect and adhere to the principles.

There are informal grievance mechanisms, and employees the management on their concerns.

We are an SME with limited budget, informal awareness raising programs on Human Rights are undertaken.

Consultation with stakeholders and affected parties are also deployed, mostly the municipal administration and some large clients, shareholders and bankers.

Senior management shares the responsibilities for the protection of Human Rights within the company and ensuring compliance.

Human resource policies and procedures supporting Human Rights are in place, many of these are through informal means.

Human Rights in the past reporting period have been respected and followed within the organization. There is no discrimination between employees on the basis of race, religion, caste, creed, gender or different abilities. Employees, too, respect each other on these grounds.

We have not had incidents of Human Rights violations. If it were to occur, the senior management and the Board would deal with such instances in accordance with laws of the country.

Investigations, legal cases, rulings, fines and other relevant events related to Human Rights - not required so far.

Periodic review of results by senior management is done through regular board meetings.

External audits of Human Rights performance - not necessitated.

Banka BioLoo adheres to the ILO Core Conventions and Indian labour norms and laws, in letter and in spirit.

We uphold the freedom of association and collective bargaining and the elimination of forced labour, child labour and employment discrimination. As a small entity, we don't have elaborate policies but we follow the fair labour principles.

Employee rights and responsibilities and their compensation and benefits are enumerated in the appointment letter of each employee. The same are, likewise, followed.

Policy requiring business partners and suppliers to adhere to the Global Compact Labour principles - As a small enterprise, we can't dictate these to our partners and suppliers, but we share the policies we follow, and urge them to follow suit.

Assessment of labour-related risks in the industry sector and country(ies) of operations - we ensure that the risks are understood and necessary steps taken to mitigate.

Specific goals in the area of Labour Rights for the upcoming year - Ensure fairness, try to hire more women employees.

Grievance mechanisms - employees approach the senior management for any concern, and the same is dealt with appropriately.

Awareness raising or training for employees on labour rights and policies - done through informal channels

Health and safety of all employees is ensured through proper water, sanitation and eating facilities. Work place is kept clean and hygienic. Their and their families' health is insured. Adequate safety measures are in place for workers at the manufacturing units as also during installation processes.

The company prevents discrimination of all kinds and ensures comparable pay for comparable work through hiring at same wages for men-women, as also ensuring fairness in everyday activities.

Consultation with employees and other stakeholders are done to understand concerns, problems and help resolve the same.

Allocation of responsibilities for the protection of labour rights within the organization are assigned to one team member at every level/hierarchy.

Human resource policies and procedures supporting the Labour principles are in place and adhered to.

Participation in international framework agreements and other agreements with labour unions is not really required as we are a fairly small organization.

Management and employees are fairly diversified in terms of age and background. Each one is respected for one's persona. Gender diversification is not highly attainable due to the nature of work - dealing with human waste, manufacturing activities, toilets installation etc. Women are adequately represented on the Board, management and in the corporate office.

We have not had any incident of violations of the Global Compact Labour principles, even if that were to be - the management would deal in accordance with the laws of the country.

Investigations, legal cases, rulings, fines and other relevant events related to the Global Compact Labour principles - not really required, as a small organization, we don't have such case(s).

Periodic review of results by senior management - undertaken in regular meetings.

Specific progress made in the area of Labour during the last reporting period - all worked well, the company worked for welfare of labour through shoes, uniforms etc.

Our product base is environmentally-focused.

We provide environmentally-friendly bio-toilets that help onsite waste treatment.

Company favours policy on environmental issues, including prevention and management of environmental risks - and ensures that all activities and tasks are in compliance and adherence.

Describe specific goals in the area of environmental protection for the upcoming year - Onsite manufacturing, that'll help reduce transportation and thereby leading to less fuel consumption.

Awareness raising of employees on environmental protection is through informal means and posters as well as audio-visuals.

Initiatives and programmes to reduce waste materials (e.g. recycling) and consumption of resources (energy, fossil fuels, water, electricity, paper, packaging, etc.) are through meetings and sessions.

Activities aimed at improving the energy efficiency of products, services and processes are undertaken through in-house sessions and regular meetings.

Development and diffusion of environmentally-friendly technologies - that's the premise of the work of Banka BioLoo, using biotechnology provide environmentally-friendly toilet systems that treat human waste at source.

Raising awareness among suppliers by asking for the environmental footprint of products or services is encouraged.

Environmental management system to identify, monitor and control the company's environmental performance will be undertaken in the coming months.

Responsibilities for environmental protection within the company is primarily with line managers - at manufacturing units as well as on sites.

Information about how the company deals with incidents is primarily with senior management.

Investigations, legal cases, rulings, fines and other relevant events related to the Global Compact environmental principles - also lies with senior management.

Specific progress made in the area of the environmental protection during the last reporting period - primarily installing many more environmentally-friendly sanitation systems.

Periodic review of results by senior management - undertaken during meeting

External audits of environmental performance will be done in future.

Assessment of risk of corruption and bribery in the company’s industry and country(ies) of operation - done by senior management.

Company follows policy of zero-tolerance for corruption, bribery and extortion in its activities.

Statement of support for the UN Convention Against Corruption and other international instruments - has been signed and sent

Protocol to guide staff in situations where they are confronted with extortion or bribery - through informal channels and means.
Policy requiring business partners and suppliers to adhere to the Global Compact anti-corruption principles
Specific goals in the area of anti-corruption for the upcoming year

Grievance mechanisms is through discussing with and writing to the senior management that helps tackle with the issue.

Awareness raising of employees about the company's policies regarding anti-corruption and extortion is done through emails and meetings.

Responsibilities for anti-corruption within the company is with the managing director and managers at sites/units.

Participation in industry initiative or other collective action on anti-corruption is through voicing concern when incidents come to light.

Information about how the company deals with incidents of corruption is shared with employees. On account of integrity and corruption, an employee's services were terminated.

To ensure consistency with anti-corruption commitment, periodic review meetings are undertaken by senior management.

Investigations, legal cases, rulings, fines and other relevant events related to corruption and bribery - if needed done by the Board.

Specific progress made in the area of anti-corruption during the last reporting period - terminated service of an employee, to serve as example for others, as also display non-toleration of corrupt activity.

External audits of anti-corruption programmes can be undertaken in future.