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Human rights and diversity are playing an increasingly important role in business management. This is reflected in the sustainability regulations already in place and planned, as well as in the growing interest of rating agencies in ESG topics. Social issues, including human rights, are increasingly becoming a condition for sustainable business. This is also an important topic for PZU Group stakeholders.

Joanna Gorczyca Director of the Sustainability Department

As a member of the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN), as well as the Council of Europe (CoE) andthe Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Poland ensures the protection of human rights under national and international legislation.

The international obligations listed below are part of the legal order in Poland, which includes, among others, the International Bill of Human Rights and the Declaration of the International Labor Organization (ILO). PZU is therefore obliged to comply with them. These are:

  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
  • European Convention on Human Rights,
  • EU Charter of Fundamental Rights,
  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),
  • International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,
  • 1st Optional Protocol to the ICCPR on individual notifications,
  • 2nd Optional Protocol to the ICCPR on the death penalty
  • ILO Convention No. 29 concerning Forced or Compulsory Labor,
  • ILO Convention No. 87 concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize
  • ILO Convention No. 100 concerning Equal Remuneration for Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value,
  • ILO Convention No. 98 concerning the Application of the Principles of the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining,
  • ILO Convention No. 105 concerning the Abolition of Forced Labor,
  • ILO Convention No. 111 concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation,
  • ILO Convention No. 138 concerning the Minimum Age for Employment,
  • ILO Convention No. 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor.

PZU is aware that internationally, the following guidelines play an important role in the human rights protection process, which place special emphasis on the human rights due diligence process, including the prevention of potential negative impacts of the company on human rights. Bearing in mind the requirements of the EU Taxonomy (Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088), PZU is revising its procedures with this in mind as well.

Adopted by the UN Human Rights Council in 2011 – “United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights”. Among other things, the guidelines emphasize the role and responsibility of businesses in protecting human rights. In line with UN, EU and CoE recommendations, one of the elements of strengthening respect for human rights in business is the implementation of National Action Plans (NAPs) for the implementation of the „UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.” Poland has also adopted the NAP – the first edition covered 2017–2020, and on 8 October 2021, the „National Action Plan for the Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights 2021–2024” was adopted.

OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises issued by the OECD in 1976, last updated in 2011, when they were supplemented with human rights and due diligence issues, among others. They set the standard for responsible business conduct. In addition to human rights issues,their topics also include, for example, the environment, corruption prevention, consumer interests, competition, taxation, science and technology. The process of updating them again is currently underway, among other things, in response to new regulatory requirements for sustainable development (e.g. EU Taxonomy, Directives: CSRD, CSDD).

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United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)

In 2022, by decision of the Management Board, PZU joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and thereby accepted the UNGC’s 10 Principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and corruption prevention, which are designed to help business achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals:

  1. to respect and promote the protection of internationally recognized human rights,
  2. to eliminate any human rights violations by the company,
  3. to support freedom of association and recognize the right to collective bargaining,
  4. to support the elimination of all forms of slavery and forced labor,
  5. to contribute to the actual abolition of child labor,
  6. to counter discrimination in employment,
  7. to promote a preventive approach to environmental problems,
  8. to take initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility,
  9. to support the development and dissemination of environmentally friendly technologies,
  10. to counter corruption in all its forms, including bribery and extortion.

UNGC rules are available on the UNGC website: https://www.unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/mission/principles

PZU membership information on the UNGC website: https://unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/participants/150962-Powszechny-Zak-ad-Ubezpiecze-Sp-ka-Akcyjna-PZU

Domestic and international obligations are reflected in PZU’s internal regulations and procedures, including PZU’s „PZU Group Human Rights Policy” – link to the Policy: https://www.pzu.pl/_fileserver/item/1530112. According to the Policy, „For the PZU Group, the fundamental value of the contemporary society is respect for human rights and dignity. The Group respects them, guided by Polish and international legal regulations as well as internal procedures for protecting human rights. In its activity, the PZU Group complies with the principles of respecting diversity. The Group makes efforts to ensure that there is no discrimination in access to its services and products, building business relations in a fair and transparent manner.”

The policy emphasizes that the PZU Group respects human rights and diversity principles in every pillar of its business activity, including: insurance (non-life and life insurance), medical services, pension fund management, establishment, representation and management of investment funds.

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Respect for human rights is the basis for building relationships with the key stakeholder groups listed in the Policy, in particular:

  1. PZU Group employees;
  2. clients;
  3. suppliers and business partners, and
  4. all other PZU Group stakeholders. These groups have been identified as the most relevant, as the PZU Group has the greatest influence on them.

Respect for human rights and diversity in relations with employees

With regard to employees, the PZU Group’s Human Rights Policy places special emphasis on: the right to fair and equal remuneration for work done, freedom of association, the right to privacy and freedom of speech and expression. In relations with employees, activities designed for creating an organization that supports diversity play a pivotal role.

  • PZU Group’s Human Rights Policy: https://www.pzu.pl/_fileserver/item/1530112
  • Whistleblowing Procedure in PZU SA and PZU Życie SA
  • Procedure for counteracting undesirable behavior in the work environment – mobbing and discrimination in PZU SA and PZU Życie SA
  • Occupational Safety and Health Policy
  • Human resource management policy in the PZU Group
  • Procedures and principles related to planning and organization of training and all development activities for employees, in particular: PZU and PZU Życie employee training procedure, Rules for the organization and financing of training and development activities, Procedure for cofinancing postgraduate programs and specialist forms of professional development for PZU and PZU Życie employees.
  • Work Regulations
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Respect for human rights in relations with clients

In its relations with clients, the Group applies the highest standards of respect for human rights. Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring privacy, fair terms of non-life insurance and a high quality of healthcare services.

The PZU Group builds its relations with clients based on the principle of their equal treatment, respecting their diversity, and none of the products or services offered by the PZU Group are discriminatory in nature. An extensive network of outlets, also located in smaller cities, provides easy access to financial services, contributes to the prevention of financial exclusion, and most of these services are also available through remote service channels, especially in myPZU. Some of the products offered by PZU are targeted at social groups that are especially vulnerable to breaches of human rights, such as the elderly, children or people with disabilities.

Also when making investment decisions regarding exposure to various commercial undertakings, the Group takes into consideration potential risks related to human rights violations. Relationships with clients and product design issues are also covered by the operational and compliance risk management system. For details, see the „Client” section.

  • Complaint Procedure for clients Rules for receiving, registering and handling and reporting client complaints
  • Procedure before the Client Ombudsman (PZU SA and PZU Życie)
  • Client Experience Management Policy in PZU SA and PZU Życie SA.

The advertising ethics are also extremely important in client relations – according to the PZU Code of Ethics in Advertising, advertising does not contain discriminatory content, does not offend human dignity, does not question animal rights, its message is not misleading or takes advantage of clients’ lack of knowledge, and the data presented in the advertisement is true and documented.

Respect for human rights in the supply chain

The PZU Group aims to make suppliers more aware of the importance of ensuring respect for human rights in their business – with this objective in mind, CSR Code for PZU Group Suppliers has been adopted. According to the document, the PZU Group expects suppliers to respect human rights. Since 2022, the area of observance of human rights and employee rights by suppliers has been among the topics covered by the Group’s supplier audit program, including the ESG factors.

According to the Code, the supplier, among others:

  • ensures respect for human rights in its operations and firmly rejects the possibility of child labor and complies with existing laws against child labor; furthermore, it does not tolerate any form of slave or forced labor,
  • ensures equal treatment in the workplace and does not employ any discriminatory practices due to age, gender, disability or race,
  • complies with the law, acts with integrity and prevents all forms of corruption in its operations, respects employee rights, and ensures the safety and proper working conditions of its employees,
  • responsibly manages employees and the workplace (e.g., ensuring the development of employees’ competencies, taking care of employees’ work-life balance) and sets its goals in this regard.

Respect for human rights in relations with other stakeholders

Respect for human rights serves as the groundwork for all relations established and maintained by the PZU Group. It transpires, e.g. in the Group’s endeavors pursued with the benefit of local communities in mind.

In addition to the PZU Group’s Human Rights Policy, PZU also has other regulations that are relevant to human rights. These include:

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Human rights oversight in relations with key stakeholder groups

The PZU Group’s Human Rights Policy was adopted by a resolution of the PZU Management Board in 2021 and is publicly available on the PZU website in Polish and English.

Directors and Management Board Members responsible for the relevant operational and control processes, in their respective areas of responsibility, are responsible for ensuring oversight of human rights in specific business areas. In 2022, the relations with the aforementioned key stakeholder groups listed in the PZU Group’s Human Rights Policy were the primary responsibility of:

  • PZU Group Director at PZU / PZU Życie Management Board Member Dorota Macieja, overseeing the Sustainability Department,
  • PZU Group Director at PZU / PZU Życie Management Board Member Bartłomiej Litwińczuk, overseeing the HR Division (employee relations),
  • PZU Group Director at PZU / PZU Życie CEO Aleksandra Agatowska, overseeing the Client Experience Management Department (customer relations),
  • PZU Management Board Member / PZU Życie Management Board Member Ernest Bejda, overseeing the Procurement Department (supplier relations).
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