ABB Policy Combating Trafficking in Persons

I. ABB policy prohibits human trafficking

ABB prohibits human trafficking (also known as trafficking in persons) or doing business with third parties who traffic in persons.

II. Prohibited Activities

The following trafficking-in-person activities and trafficking-related activities are prohibited.

1. Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age.

2. The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery

3. Procurement of commercial sex acts during the period of performance of a U.S. government contract.

4. Use of forced labor (as that term is defined in the law).

5. Denying access of an employee to their identity or immigration documents such as passport or driver’s license.

6. Recruiting employees using fraud or misrepresentations about key terms of employment, including wages and fringe benefits, location of work, living conditions, housing and associated costs, costs to be charged to the employee, hazardous nature of the work.

7. Using recruiters that do not comply with local labor laws of the country in which the recruitment takes place.

8. Charging employees recruitment fees.

9. Failure to provide return transportation or pay for the cost of return transportation upon the end of employment

a. This applies to:
i. An employee who is not a national of the country in which the work is taking place and who was brought into that country for the purpose of working on a U.S. Government contract or subcontract performed outside the U.S.; or
ii. An employee who is not a U.S. national and who was brought into the U.S. for the purpose of working on a U.S. Government contract or subcontract and payment of return transportation costs are required under existing temporary worker programs or pursuant to a written agreement with the employee

b. This does not apply to:
i. Employees legally permitted to remain in the country of employment and who choose to do so; or
ii. Employees exempted by an authorized official of the U.S. Government contracting agency

10. Providing housing that does not meet host country housing and safety standards.

11. If required by law, failing to provide an employment contract, recruitment contract or other required work document in writing

a. If required, such written document shall be in a language the employee understands.
b. If a written document is required, and if the employee must relocate to perform the work, the work document shall be provided to the employee at least 5 days prior to the employee relocating.
c. If required, the employee’s work document shall include, but is not limited to, details about
i. Work description
ii. Wages
iii. Prohibition on charging recruitment fees
iv. Work location(s)
v. Living accommodations and associated costs
vi. Time off
vii. Roundtrip transportation arrangements
viii. Grievance process
ix. Content of applicable laws and regulations that prohibit trafficking in persons (FAR 52.222.50)

III. Contractors and Subcontractors


1. For any business related to a U.S. Government contract, ABB contractors and subcontractors will be required to contractually commit to adhere to this policy. In such a case, a Prohibition of Human Trafficking clause shall be a required term of any written agreement between ABB and a contractor or subcontractor. The mandatory Prohibition of Human Trafficking clause is set forth in Attachment 1 hereto.

IV. Human Trafficking Compliance Plan

1. ABB’s Global Integrity and Human Resource policies provide the basis of ABB’s Trafficking Compliance Plan. The instant policy supplements ABB’s Global Integrity and Human Resource policies and works in tandem as a component of the overall ABB Integrity plan.

a. Relevant ABB policies and documents include, but are not limited to:
i. Code of Conduct
ii. Supplier Code of Conduct
iii. Social Policy
iv. Human Rights Policy and Statement
v. Global Mobility Policy
vi. U.S. Domestic Relocation Policy
vii. Short-Term Assignment Regulations
viii. ABB Group International Transfer Regulations
ix. Others

2. ABB will inform its employees about the U.S. Government’s policy prohibiting trafficking related activities.

3. ABB will inform its employees about the U.S. Government’s human trafficking awareness training at https://www.state.gov/j/tip/training/index.htm.

4. ABB will inform its employees that a violation of this policy can result in disciplinary action up to, and including, termination of employment.

5. In addition to current reporting methods, ABB employees may report violations of this policy to the U.S. Government Global Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-844-888-FREE [3733] and its email address at help@befree.org.

6. The relevant portions of the ABB Human Trafficking Compliance Plan will be posted at each facility and on the ABB Intranet site (us.inside.abb.com). If one of these methods is impracticable, ABB shall provide the relevant contents of the plan to each worker in writing.

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