Human rights
Nobody’s equal till everybody’s equal
Our vision of “creating a better everyday life for the many people” embraces co-workers, customers, suppliers and their local communities.
Respect for human rights, based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, is part of everything we do and is included in our supplier code of conduct, called the IWAY Standard.
Supporting the ethical recruitment of migrant workers
There are over 200 million international migrants across the world, with over 100 million of them working. Some leave home and succeed in finding better work and improving their quality of life. But for others, the promise of a better future can result in large debts from recruitment fees and – in the worst cases – bonded labor. At IKEA we set clear standards for the recruitment and employment of workers through IWAY, our code of conduct.We will never tolerate forced labor or human trafficking. We also expect our suppliers to treat migrant workers fairly and to offer transparent employment terms and good working and living conditions.
Working together to drive change
In some countries recruitment practices are complex and involve many different organisations, so it’s important also to work with others. IKEA has joined forces with four other companies – HP, Hewlett Packard Enterprises, The Coca-Cola Company and Unilever – to drive positive change in the way that migrant workers are recruited. The Leadership Group for Responsible Recruitment will advocate for the ‘Employer Pays Principle’, which calls for all recruitment fees to be paid by the employer, not the worker.
A clear ban on child labour
We believe that children have the right to be protected from exploitation, abuse and neglect. This is why closely co-operate with Save the Children and UNICEF to give them better life conditions.
Our commitment to children runs deep
When it comes to our products and stores, we try to think from a child’s perspective. We want our products to aid their development and for our stores to become play areas. We work with experts on children’s development, to learn and understand their needs during different stages of development.
Creating long-term solutions
Eliminating child labour is a big challenge, which can only be tackled by addressing the root causes with a holistic approach. That’s why the IKEA Foundation supports UNICEF and Save the Children child rights programs in 25,000 villages in a number of states in India and Pakistan.
We believe in protecting children
We do everything we can to act in the best interests of children. We do this through advocacy, raising awareness and supporting children in vulnerable communities.