Communication on Progress - United Nations Global Compact

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Communication on Progress
Participant
 4points Group
Time period

August 2016 – August 2016
We, at 4points Group, would like to express our support and ongoing commitment for UN
Global Compact. We support all that Global Compact stands for and look forward to working
within its standards and principles, during the coming year.
Tania Khaled Nigh
President, 4points Group Iraq
Human Rights


Assessment, policy and goals
Description of the relevance of human rights for the company (i.e. human rights riskassessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on Human
Rights.

4points Group (4points) wholeheartedly supports the UN Declaration of Human Rights
and will continue to do so in the following year.


Implementation
Description of concrete actions to implement Human Rights policies, address Human
Rights risks and respond to Human Rights violations.

At 4points, we ensure that our employees are free to openly express themselves
politically, socially, and religiously without fear of persecution. Additionally, we provide
paid holidays, vacation, and overtime compensation, and 62 days of paid maternity
leave (in accordance with Iraqi Labor Law). We strive to accommodate employees who
are attempting to further their education by providing flexible scheduling.
We have also posted copies of the Declaration on Human Rights in high-traffic areas of
the office in English and Arabic.


Measurement of outcomes
Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

Employees are aware of the Declaration on Human Rights and are free to voice concerns
or ask questions.
Labor


Assessment, policy and goals
Description of the relevance of labour rights for the company (i.e. labour rights-related
risks and opportunities). Description of written policies, public commitments and
company goals on labour rights.

4points is an Iraqi-owned company and ensures that the large majority of the staff is
made up of local Iraqis. We recognize that employees are important to the success of
our company and we place a great deal of importance on ensuring that employees are
happy and content with their working conditions and circumstances. 4points does not
force employment in any way, shape, or form and all employees are paid. Employees
are free to resign at any point, for any reason, with a 30-day notice.


Implementation
Description of concrete actions taken by the company to implement labour policies,
address labour risks and respond to labour violations.

Contracts are utilized to ensure that employees and 4points understand and agree what
is expected of both parties during an employment agreement. 4points complies with the
Iraqi Labor Law (1987) to ensure that employees’ are given the proper rights afforded to
them that law.
Employees are paid competitive local wages and are given overtime compensation
when extra work is performed. The 4points human resources department properly
manages hours-worked to ensure proper payment is made to employees and that they
are on time.
Management at 4points maintains an “open door” policy with all employees so that,
should an employee wish to make a complaint, or raise a concern, they can do so;
without fear of negative repercussion. This policy is expected of all management
personnel in 4points headquarters and field offices.
4points is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age,
gender, sex, religion, marital status, or any other factor when filling positions.


Measurement of outcomes
Description of how the company monitors and evaluates performance.

As mentioned above, our competent human resources team ensures that the
administrative side of employee compensation is handled in a professional manner
while the “open door” policy of the management ensures that employees feel cared for
and are kept happy. This increases workplace moral and ensures that 4points runs in a
smooth and efficient manner. We have employees from diverse religious and
socioeconomic backgrounds and almost 43% of our headquarter employees are women.
Environment


Assessment, policy and goals
Description of the relevance of environmental protection for the company (i.e.
environmental risks and opportunities). Description of policies, public commitments and
company goals on environmental protection.

4points is committed to the continued general development of Iraq during this trying
time in the country’s history. As such, 4points is concerned with all forms of
development and the factors that affect it. We believe that promoting environmental
responsibility is important and that encouraging practices which are beneficial to the
environment can only help to improve long-term development in Iraq. We will strive to
continue improving our environmental footprint and contributing to overall
environmental improvement.


Implementation
Description of concrete actions to implement environmental policies, address
environmental risks and respond to environmental incidents.

4points already has a very small economic footprint; as we are not in the industrial, oil,
mechanical, etc. fields. The majority of our economic impact is a result of electricity
needs associated with running an office and guest house for employees. Since Iraq
presents interesting challenges with regards to energy availability and reliability we, like
most residents and businesses, require the use of a generator. We attempt to use gasrun generator as little as possible and take advantage of the environmentally lessharmful National Power whenever possible. Additionally, we strive to ensure that lights,
as well as other amenities, are switched off when a room, or building, is not in use and
we discourage the use of practices which result in the overuse of water resources.


Measurement of outcomes
Description of how the company monitors and evaluates environmental performance.

Several factors in Iraq contribute to high overhead costs for companies operating in the
country. In addition to the aforementioned concern with all factors affecting
development, there is a monetary benefit for ensuring that 4points maintain a small
economic footprint. We are able to track our energy and resource consumption by our
energy costs; for example, the high fuel costs for running our generator from month to
month. In effect, we are able to monitor our environmental impact through the direct
monetary costs to us; which has the added effect of providing further incentive to
decrease consumption.
Anti-Corruption


Assessment, policy and goals
Description of the relevance of anti-corruption for the company (i.e. anti-corruption
risk-assessment). Description of policies, public commitments and company goals on
anti-corruption.

4points supports the UN Convention Against Corruption and strives to ensure that all
forms of corruption and nepotism are absent from the organization and its affiliates. As
stated above, 4points is committed to development of all forms in Iraq. Corruption can
have a negative impact on economic, civic, and social growth and is therefore
detrimental to the overall goals that 4points strives to achieve.


Implementation
Description of concrete actions to implement anti-corruption policies, address anticorruption risks and respond to incidents.

We believe that corruption facilitates developmental and moral corrosion and,
therefore, corrupt practices would inhibit the company’s core objectives. Besides the
idealistic aversion to corruption, 4points cannot pragmatically take part in such activity.
Our company works on a range of development projects for several international
development organizations and, as such, we are subject to audits at any time. We work
closely with organizations, such as the US Embassy, which have zero-tolerance policies
regarding corruption.
We ensure that there is no conflict of interest when hiring employees and fully disclose
the reasons for any hire that could be construed as such.
We will continue to be vigilant in the upcoming year to ensure that we do not take part,
or work with organizations that do, in any corrupt practices.
4points also requires that the procurement committee sign “Conflict of Interest
Prevention Forms” during the procurement process of any materials for projects.


Measurement of outcomes
Description of how the company monitors and evaluates anti-corruption performance.

We have been audited by both Iraqi companies and several of the international
organizations that we work with. We also provide an overhead audit to each company
every time we are awarded a new project. We will continue to vigilantly avoid all
aspects of corruption in the coming year.
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