Due to the broad scale of its operations, the PGE Group cooperates with numerous organisations across the entire value chain. By fostering long-term business relationships, setting cooperation standards and rules, and incorporating contractual clauses and external regulations, the Group also exerts influence over its suppliers and their employees.
The PGE Group may impact workers in the value chain particularly in relation to:
- Individuals working at PGE Group’s locations or on behalf of the Group,
- Employees of upstream value chain entities (e.g. logistics or distribution service providers).
The Group does not have a dedicated policy addressing the significant impacts, risks, and opportunities concerning workers in the value chain, as this area has thus far been governed by existing general internal regulations.
Issues related to the organisation’s influence on value chain workers and obligations placed on their employers have been addressed in principle in the following documents:
- Code of Conduct for Business Partners of the PGE CG companies,
- PGE CG’s Human Rights Policy,
- OHS Policy also referred to as Occupational Health and Safety Internal Regulations of the PGE CG).
The PGE Group has put in place a Code of Conduct for Business Partners of the PGE CG companies, which sets out, among other things, expectations for business partners regarding respect for human rights and working conditions. The Code references legal requirements, in particular labour rights, occupational health and safety rules, competition law, and environmental protection.
It includes a dedicated section on human rights and labour standards, prohibiting child labour and forced labour both in Poland and abroad. Where minors are employed, they may only perform light work that poses no risk to their health or development and does not interfere with education. Business partners must not tolerate work that endangers health or violates human dignity, nor any form of mobbing or discrimination. The Code of Conduct for Business Partners outlines expected behaviours related to providing safe working environments, complying with OHS standards and regulations – including induction training, provision of protective equipment, and OHS training. Employment terms and labour standards in the PGE Group’s value chain are key procurement criteria. Contractual clauses requiring employment contracts are mandated for selected procurement areas such as security, cleaning, or construction, ensuring workers’ basic labour rights and legal protections.
The Code also requires suppliers and business partners to respect fundamental human rights principles as set out in international documents, including:
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
- International Labour Organisation standards;
- 10 Principles of the United Nations Global Compact;
- Convention on the Rights of the Child;
- Guidelines of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for multinational enterprises;
- Guidelines on Business and Human Rights: Implementing the United Nations “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework.
PGE Group companies expect their Business Partners to observe these principles and guidelines and confirm their understanding of the Code of Conduct during the procurement process.
Information on the Code of Conduct for Business Partners in relation to minimum disclosure requirements not addressed in this section is provided in section G1-1 of this Statement.
Another important document that indirectly supports the management of risks related to workers in the value chain is the PGE CG’s Human Rights Policy. It sets out the fundamental principles and regulatory framework related to human rights. All persons acting on behalf of or for the PGE Group must be familiar and comply with these principles. The Group cooperates only with entities that share its values and operate lawfully and ethically. The policy regulates the process for reporting misconduct and requires business partners to uphold human rights. When selecting or evaluating contractors, the PGE Group ensures they understand these principles and implements remedial measures in the event of violations. The PGE CG rejects forced labour, human trafficking, and all forms of modern slavery. It is committed to making every effort to ensure that no one whose work is linked to the company’s operations – including through business partners – is subjected to forced labour. It also takes appropriate measures to eliminate forced labour, modern slavery, and human trafficking.
Details regarding the PGE CG’s Human Rights Policy in relation to minimum disclosure requirements not addressed in this section are provided in section S1 of this Statement.
ne of the key documents ensuring high safety standards for both PGE employees and value chain workers is the OHS Policy. It includes commitments to:
- Comply with legal and other requirements related to occupational health and safety,
- Enforce decisions, recommendations, and orders issued by national labour inspection authorities in accordance with applicable regulations.
Updated in December 2024, the PGE CG’s policy on the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases extends, in relation to value chain workers, to contractors working on PGE premises and operating PGE-owned equipment.
Printed materials communicating life-saving rules have been made available in Polish, Ukrainian, and English, allowing the message to reach a broader audience.
Information regarding the OHS Policy at the PGE CG in relation to minimum disclosure requirements not covered in this section is provided in section S1 of this Statement.