Repsol YPF

Promotion of Human Rights at Repsol YPF

Repsol YPF’s commitment to human rights is defined by its Ethics and Conduct Regulation and Policy for Human Rights, Respect for People and their Diversity. Both are based on internationally recognised standards such as the principles of the United Nations Global Compact, the International Labour Organisation Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the directives and lines of action established by OGP documents.

Repsol YPF aims to also extend these principles to its supply chain. All contract awardee companies worldwide, within the framework of General Purchasing and Contracting Conditions are contractually required to comply with the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other issues related to safety and the environment. 

Non-compliance with these issues constitutes grounds for cancellation of contracts. In Spain, for suppliers considered critical and semi-critical according to the company’s calification process, Repsol YPF requests a signed statement of compliance on social rights, safety and environmental issues (relating to prevailing legislation and the ILO convention), as well as a signed declaration of corporate social responsibility (adherence to principles of the United Nations Global Compact and specific respective policies). In Argentina, these statements are incorporated into the audit surveys for critical suppliers in accordance with the new supplier management systems. The responses and findings are included in the audit report. 

Over the coming years, Repsol YPF will continue to work towards improving supplier management with regard to environmental, social and ethical issues and finally to incorporate these aspects into its business model. 

Repsol YPF’s Corporate Responsibility Master Plan also focuses on certain key issues such as employing tools to facilitate management of human rights in operations and the incorporation of new ethical, social and environmental risks into the company’s risk management systems.

Given the multidisciplinary nature of these issues which affect different stakeholders and areas of the company, the management of human rights at Repsol YPF is undertaken in a coordinated manner between different departments. The areas involved include human resource, external relations, legal services and the relevant areas of the different business units. 

To gain insight into and adopt best international practices, Repsol YPF actively participates in associations such as IPIECA and ARPEL forming part of their corporate social responsibility working groups. The most recent work published by the company in the context of the IPIECA human rights working group has been the Human Rights Training Kit for the Oil and Gas Industry, available in three languages, English, French and Spanish at www.ipieca.org