HP Reinforces Protection of Foreign Migrant Workers

HP Reinforces Protection of Foreign Migrant Workers

Company Requires Direct Employment for Added Protection

PALO ALTO, CA--(Marketwired - Nov 10, 2014) - HP (NYSE: HPQ) today took a major step forward in expanding its leading supply chain program on preventing exploitative labor practices and forced labor. HP is the first company in the IT industry to require direct employment of foreign migrant workers in its supply chain. The additional standard combines this direct employment requirement with rights relating to worker retention of passports and personal documentation and the elimination of worker-paid recruitment fees.

The HP Foreign Migrant Worker Standard was developed in consultation with Verit , an international nonprofit that promotes safe, fair, and legal working conditions, and has specific expertise in combatting forced labor in supply chains.

Verit s focused assessments and independent research confirm that workers who are employed by labor agents are more at risk of forced labor than those employed directly, said Dan Viederman, CEO, Verit . HPs standard requiring direct hiring will remove a key obstacle to ethical treatment of migrant workers. The standard sets a new bar and will likely result in substantial financial benefit to foreign migrant workers in HPs supply chain, and we hope other companies will adopt similar policies.

The standard builds on existing efforts to educate suppliers on best practices and is a part of HPs Supplier Code of Conduct, which already expressly forbids any forced, bonded, indentured, involuntary prison labor, slavery or trafficking of persons. It is the newest fortification in HPs leading Supply Chain Responsibility (SCR) program, which prioritizes the protection of vulnerable workers through advanced programs and standards such as the responsible management of student and dispatch workers, advancing the use of conflict free minerals and industry leading supply chain transparency.

The new standard addresses vulnerabilities that foreign migrant workers face in outsourced employment relationships and mandates the minimum requirements for suppliers for the recruitment, selection, hiring and management of foreign migrant workers.

Conditions that contribute to any form of forced labor are unacceptable in our supply chain, said Stuart Pann, senior vice president, PPS Operations, HP. This initiative underscores our commitment to continually improving our supply chain, one of the largest in the industry, and to demonstrating leadership that encourages other companies to advance their responsibility to protect vulnerable worker populations.

To ensure implementation of this standard, HP will complement its existing SCR program with specialized forced labor audits and regular monitoring. Suppliers that do not meet the standard will be required to correct their practices with urgency and may be subject to internal HP escalations, remediation programs and risk discontinuation of business with HP.

Additional information on HPs commitment to supply chain responsibility is available at http://www8.hp.com/us/en/hp-information/global-citizenship/society/supplychain.html.

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The worlds largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of HP for future operations, including the separation transaction; the future performance if Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and HP Inc. if the separation is completed; any statements concerning expected development, performance, market share or competitive performance relating to products and services; any statements regarding anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the need to address the many challenges facing HPs businesses; the competitive pressures faced by HPs businesses; risks associated with executing HPs strategy, including the planned separation transaction, and plans for future operations and investments; the impact of macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the need to manage third-party suppliers and the distribution of HPs products and services effectively; the protection of HPs intellectual property assets, including intellectual property licensed from third parties; risks associated with HPs international operations; the development and transition of new products and services and the enhancement of existing products and services to meet customer needs and respond to emerging technological trends; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its suppliers, customers, clients and partners; the hiring and retention of key employees; integration and other risks associated with business combination and investment transactions; the execution, timing and results of restructuring plans, including estimates and assumptions related to the cost and the anticipated benefits of implementing those plans; the execution, timing and results of the separation transaction or restructuri

LINK:	http://www8.hp.com/us/en/hp-news/press-release.html?wireId=1894565&pag...
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