Our Social Management System policy includes the fundamental principles and values we have established together with all our business partners, in line with applicable national and international legislation, applicable voluntary sustainability and social compliance standards, and stakeholder expectations. Our goal is to make the Social Management System an integral part of the corporate culture within YAVUZ GIDA. In this context, we undertake to create a working environment that respects human rights, prevents child labor, protects young workers, ensures occupational health and safety, supports gender equality, is environmentally conscious, adopts open and honest communication, and values and respects employees. Our Social Management System policy is communicated to all our employees through training and to our relevant stakeholders through appropriate communication channels. Our suppliers and other stakeholders are informed, their performance is regularly evaluated, and they are developed in line with the continuous improvement approach.

 

Our company undertakes to comply with the working principles stated below.

                Prevention of Forced and Compulsory Labor
                Employees work for wages under employment contracts established with the employer of their own free will. YAVUZ GIDA undertakes not to force any employee to work, not to allow bonded labor practices, not to withhold employees’ identity documents or personal papers, not to restrict employees’ freedom of movement, and not to employ them outside the scope of their employment contract. Overtime work is carried out on a voluntary basis. Employees have the right to leave employment within the framework of applicable legislation and contractual provisions.

                Prevention of Child and Young Labor
                Our company undertakes to act in accordance with the procedures and principles regarding the employment of children and young workers, not to employ any person below the legal minimum age, to observe the best interests of young workers, to support the continuity of their education, and to ensure that young workers work under safe working conditions. Young workers are not allowed to work in hazardous jobs, heavy work, or jobs unsuitable for their age. Young workers’ access to safe feedback mechanisms is supported, and awareness and guidance activities that support their personal development are carried out.

                Prevention of Discrimination
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes not to discriminate among employees on the basis of language, religion, race, color, ethnic origin, sect, marital status, gender, age, pregnancy, disability, political opinion, philosophical belief, or other personal characteristics; and to base recruitment, remuneration, task distribution, training, promotion, disciplinary practices, and termination processes on employees’ knowledge, skills, and competencies.

                Equal opportunities are provided to all employees, except for the special protective provisions stipulated by applicable legislation for pregnant employees, young workers, and employees with disabilities. Discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and unequal treatment are not permitted under any circumstances.

                Decent Working Hours
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to comply with applicable legislation, international labor standards, and customer requirements in determining working hours. Overtime practices are carried out on a voluntary basis. Employees’ daily, weekly, and annual working hours, as well as rest and leave rights, are provided in line with legal regulations and applicable customer standards. If overtime is performed, it is implemented in a manner that does not exceed the limits specified in legal and customer standards, and overtime wages are calculated according to the increased wage principles set out in applicable legislation and paid on time. The health, safety, and social life balance of employees are observed.

                Fair Wages and Payments
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to pay regular working wages and overtime wages on time and in full in accordance with applicable legislation, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable customer requirements. Employees are provided with the social rights and benefits determined by legislation and collective bargaining agreements. Wage deductions are applied only within the framework of legal regulations and in a transparent manner. YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to support employees’ access to decent living conditions and to contribute to the improvement of their living standards.

                Confidentiality
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to protect the confidentiality of personal data, contracts, commercial information, and accepted agreements belonging to all employees, producers, suppliers, subcontractors, and other stakeholders within the supply chain. Personal data is processed and stored in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. Information obtained within the scope of grievance mechanisms, including sensitive information relating to children, young workers, women, and other vulnerable groups, is evaluated within the principles of confidentiality, impartiality, and protection against retaliation.

                Occupational Health and Safety
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to fully comply with national legislation on occupational health and safety, applicable international standards, customer requirements, and applicable voluntary sustainability standards. By effectively implementing technical developments and innovations, it regularly assesses risks that may affect the health and safety of all employees, temporary workers, subcontractor employees, visitors, customers, and other persons in the workplace who are affected by its activities, and takes the necessary preventive measures.

                Occupational health and safety trainings are carried out regularly, emergency preparedness and response processes are implemented, and occupational health and safety performance is monitored within the scope of the continuous improvement approach. Cases of death, serious injury, child labor, forced labor, and serious human rights violations are immediately recorded, evaluated, and, where necessary, reported to relevant stakeholders.

                Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Rights
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to respect employees’ rights to establish trade unions, become members of trade unions or legal associations, participate in collective bargaining processes, and express their views through employee representatives. Employees may not be discriminated against, have their employment contracts terminated, or be subjected to any retaliation due to their participation in trade union, association, or employee representative activities. YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to create a working environment where employees’ rights are respected, they can freely express their views, and democratic participation is supported.

                Requests, Complaints, and Suggestions
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to establish appropriate and accessible mechanisms through which employees, producers, suppliers, and other stakeholders can submit their requests, complaints, and suggestions. Complaints are evaluated in a timely, impartial, and effective manner, and feedback is provided. Grievance mechanisms are carried out in line with the principles of confidentiality, impartiality, and protection against retaliation. Children, young workers, women, and other vulnerable groups are supported in accessing safe feedback mechanisms.

                Commitment to Society and Stakeholders
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to listen to, evaluate, and take into account the opinions of employees, producers, suppliers, agricultural labor intermediaries, seasonal workers, local communities, and stakeholders in decision-making processes, and to support stakeholder engagement on the basis of good faith. In this context, employee representatives are determined in accordance with applicable legislation, and appropriate environments are created where employees can convey their problems, suggestions, and expectations through representatives. Employees and other stakeholders can safely share their views through suggestion boxes, grievance mechanisms, and other communication channels.

                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to establish open communication and dialogue with its stakeholders on human rights, working conditions, prevention of child labor, protection of young workers, gender equality, and other social issues, and to take stakeholder feedback into account in social risk assessment and continuous improvement processes.

                Compliance with Laws and Other Obligations
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to operate in compliance with applicable national and international legislation, customer requirements, voluntary sustainability and social compliance standards, human rights principles, and internal company management systems.

                Obligations regarding land use rights, environment, labor, human rights, child protection, protection of young workers, FPIC (Free, Prior and Informed Consent), taxes, anti-corruption, and supply chain responsibilities are regularly monitored and implemented.

                Where legal requirements are stricter than the applicable standards, legal provisions are applied; where standard requirements are stricter, the relevant standard provisions are applied. Human rights and social risks are regularly assessed; necessary corrective, preventive, and continuous improvement activities are planned, implemented, and their effectiveness is monitored.

                Prevention of Disciplinary Abuse / Ill-Treatment and Harassment
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to respect the personality, dignity, and fundamental human rights of all employees, not to resort to corporate punishment practices, and to adopt a zero-tolerance approach against verbal, physical, sexual, or psychological harassment, mobbing, threats, bullying, pressure, and all forms of ill-treatment.

                Disciplinary practices are carried out fairly, transparently, without discrimination, and with respect for human dignity. Reports regarding harassment, violence, ill-treatment, and human rights violations are evaluated in line with the principles of confidentiality, impartiality, and protection against retaliation; necessary corrective and preventive actions are implemented.

                Representation and Freedom of Expression
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to respect employees’ rights to representation, organization, expression of opinions, and participation in collective dialogue processes within the scope of legal legislation and applicable standards. Employees are supported in freely choosing their representatives and expressing their opinions and suggestions without fear of retaliation. Regular communication and consultation mechanisms with employee representatives are ensured to operate effectively.

                Prevention of Bribery and Corruption
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes that all employees, suppliers, and business partners shall refrain from bribery, corruption, irregular payments, conflicts of interest, and any practices that may provide unfair gain. Requesting, giving, or accepting gifts, payments, commissions, privileges, or similar benefits for the purpose of obtaining material or non-material advantage is not accepted under any circumstances.

                A zero-tolerance approach is applied against any behavior that provides unfair personal advantage for employees. Receiving or giving any benefit that may be considered bribery or corruption is strictly prohibited. Suspicious situations may be reported and evaluated through relevant mechanisms in line with the principles of confidentiality and protection against retaliation.

                Gender Equality
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to support equal rights and opportunities for all female and male employees and to adopt a zero-tolerance approach against discrimination, harassment, violence, and all forms of ill-treatment based on gender. Equal opportunities are provided in recruitment, remuneration, training, promotion, task distribution, and decision-making processes.

                Our company aims to implement policies and practices that support gender equality, to regularly review and continuously improve these practices, and to raise awareness among employees. Women’s effective participation in decision-making processes is supported. A zero-tolerance approach is applied against gender-based violence, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation; in such cases, necessary corrective and preventive actions are carried out immediately.

                Environmental Protection
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to comply with applicable environmental legislation, applicable international standards, and customer requirements; to identify and assess environmental impacts; and to prevent environmental pollution. Activities are carried out to reduce pollution at its source through effective waste management practices, protect natural resources, use energy and water resources efficiently, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

                Environmental performance is regularly monitored, environmental risks are assessed, and activities for the protection of the environment are developed in line with the continuous improvement approach. Practices that contribute to the protection of biodiversity, support of natural ecosystems, and fight against climate change are encouraged.

                Deforestation and Biodiversity
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to protect forests, natural ecosystems, and areas of high conservation value throughout the supply chain, to prevent deforestation, and to support biodiversity. Regulatory and preventive activities are carried out to reduce the environmental impacts of production activities; practices that contribute to the protection of natural resources, the sustainability of ecosystems, and the improvement of biological diversity are supported.

                Supply Chain Security and Product Integrity
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to ensure supply chain security, product integrity, and compliance with applicable national and international legislation. In this context, it implements the necessary control, monitoring, and security mechanisms to prevent illegal, smuggled, undeclared, or unauthorized products, substances, and materials from being included in production, storage, transportation, and shipment processes.

Our company regularly assesses product safety, supply chain security, and regulatory compliance risks, takes necessary preventive measures, and develops its processes in line with the continuous improvement approach.

                Supplier Relations
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to obtain commitments from its suppliers, subcontractors, and business partners regarding compliance with social, environmental, and ethical obligations; to evaluate these parties in terms of Social Management System requirements; to monitor evaluation results through risk-based action plans; and to ensure that their social compliance performance is gradually improved in line with the continuous improvement approach.

                The principles of traceability, transparency, sustainability, and respect for human rights are followed in the supply chain; where necessary, training, capacity building, follow-up audit, and corrective action processes are implemented.

                Respect for Human Rights
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to respect internationally recognized human rights in all its activities, to prevent human rights violations, to regularly assess human rights risks, and to implement necessary corrective and preventive actions. It undertakes to support the protection and empowerment of the rights of children, young workers, women, and other vulnerable groups.

                Management System
                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to carry out its Social Management System and social performance activities within the framework of an effective management system in line with applicable legislation, applicable standards, customer requirements, and the company code of conduct. To ensure the effectiveness of the Social Management System, it undertakes to provide the necessary human resources, technical infrastructure, and financial resources, to regularly monitor system performance, and to carry out continuous improvement activities.

                Social performance indicators, stakeholder feedback, grievance mechanisms, internal and external audit results, risk assessments, corrective and preventive actions, and management review outputs are regularly evaluated, and necessary improvement decisions are taken to increase system performance.

                YAVUZ GIDA undertakes to regularly review the implementation of the commitments stated within the scope of this policy, monitor its performance, and develop it in line with the continuous improvement approach.

 

 

          GENERAL MANAGER

          BÜLENT YAVUZ