Culture and conduct - Labour standards - Pearson Annual Report 2003

The UN Global Compact Pearson was a founder signatory of the UN Global Compact which sets out worldwide standards for the corporate sector. The nine principles of the UN Global Compact are:

Human rights
1. Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights within their sphere of influence; and
2. make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

Labour standards
3. Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; and
4. the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour; and
5. the effective abolition of child labour; and
6. eliminate discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Environment
7. Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges; and
8. undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and
9. encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.