Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Corporate Social Responsibility is not just a question of image: above all, it should reflect a company's human dimension. Belgacom Group has a long-standing tradition of social commitment. The concept of a company's performance has developed beyond purely financial factors. Performance should be measured in terms of what a company takes from and gives back to society. As a company listed on the stock exchange, Belgacom is fully aware that all parties involved with the company (customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, etc.) take an interest in the way in which Belgacom achieves its results, over and beyond its purely legal obligations. For more information, go to www.belgacom.be - Belgacom Group - Corporate Social Responsibility

Procurement Policy

The Procurement policy is an important element in Belgacom's corporate involvement.
The Procurement department wants to ensure that its suppliers and their subcontractors provide products and services in such a way that they meet and even exceed the legal requirements, by integrating social, environmental and economical aspects.

Belgacom Procurement's selection process is determined by a number of predefined selection criteria within the framework of the Business Principles of Procurement. These selection criteria now also include the CSR requirements, detailed in the Code of Ethical Procurement.

Procurement has already applied several CSR principles for a number of years:
- in the procurement policy,
- in the procurement process, and
- in the supplier selection process.

Procurement policy:

- Confidential information
- Gifts
- Non-discriminatory working relationships
- Safety, health and environment
- Exchange of information, etc.

Procurement process:

Since 2000, Procurement has automated the procurement process by implementing:
- an e-Buying application allowing Belgacom employees to order products or services themselves using e-Catalogs;
- a website for Belgacom suppliers where the latter can consult online documents and information via the Internet;
- CertiONE: for sending purchase orders and receiving invoices from Belgacom suppliers over the Internet.

These IT projects have drastically reduced the number of paper documents sent. The much lower paper consumption is having a positive impact on the environment.

Selection of suppliers:

Through Belgacom's social commitment, certain products and services are procured from suppliers employing people with a disability or who are not able to work in a normal business environment as Protected Workshops.

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CSR initiatives

In 2006, Procurement launched the following initiatives:

- The Procurement Policy was benchmarked at the CSR level, being compared with other European telecommunication providers, suppliers of telecommunication equipment and international standards. This resulted in an updated and extended Procurement Policy.

- A Code of Ethical Procurement was developed.

- Specific new CSR clauses for Procurement contracts were drafted.

Code of Ethical Procurement:

The Code of Ethical Procurement has been developed to promote safe and fair working conditions and to manage environmental and social issues:

1. Legal Compliance
2. Child Labor
3. Forced Labor
4. Health and Safety
5. Freedom of Association
6. Discrimination
7. Disciplinary Practices
8. Working Hours
9. Wages
10. Individual Conduct
11. Environment

This code is appended to existing contracts in the form of an addendum for suppliers to sign, as confirmation of their commitment.

Click here to download the Code of Ethical Procurement

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