Ethical Management
Transparent and fair business activities
Ethical Management
Kia is devoted to transparency, reliability, and ethical values, as well as ethical management techniques that enhance the company’s sustainable competitiveness.
Governance
Our Audit Committee, Sustainability Management Committee, Outside Director Recommendation Committee, and Compensation Committee under the Board of Directors boost on continuous improvement of ethical management.
- Audit Committee
- Sustainability Management Committee
- Outside Director Recommendation Committee
- Compensation Committee
Human Rights Protection
Kia protects and promotes human rights of all stakeholders, including employees, partners, and customers. Kia established the Human Rights Charter in July 2020, which adheres with several international norms on human rights and labor. Kia produced eight primary bullet points in the charter to convey the company's commitment to human rights in all workplaces.
We’re also addressing human resource risks by urging employees to follow human rights principles and guidelines by educating them on the recently approved human rights charter.
Human Rights/Ethical Management related Training
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offline | 18 times, 510 persons |
26 times, 744 persons |
1 time, 22 persons |
| Online | 2 times, 7,000 persons |
2 times, 7,783 persons |
4 times, 7,096 persons |
| Total | 20 times, 7,510 persons |
28 times, 8,527 persons |
5 times, 7,118 persons |
Human Rights Impact Assessment
Based on the Human Rights Charter, Kia assesses the amount of human rights infringement at each business site and highlights areas where the action is required through 105 comprehensive inspection issues in the aforementioned eight primary areas, such as the prohibition of discrimination, the prohibition of forced and child labor, and the assurance of industrial safety. Stakeholders are informed about the evaluation’s findings through a variety of channels including the official website.
No substantial human rights hazards were identified as a consequence of the 2020 Human Rights Impact Assessment. Kia pays special attention to the opinions of key stakeholders to avoid human rights breaches. To improve the human rights risk management system and boost prevention actions, Kia randomly selected workplaces and elaborated our examination criteria to perform on-site investigations in the 2021 human rights impact assessment.
Composition of Kia Human Rights Impact Assessment
| Key areas of assessment |
Number of detailed items |
|---|---|
| Human Rights Management System | 5 |
| No discrimination | 15 |
| Compliance with working conditions | 5 |
| Humane treatment | 10 |
| Freedom of association and collective bargaining | 13 |
| Prohibition of forced labor and child labor | 18 |
| Occupational safety | 17 |
| Protection of human rights in local community | 8 |
| Protection of human rights of customers | 13 |
| Total | 104 |
Fair trade
With the active assistance of top management, Kia implements a fair trade culture. The operation of an in-house compliance council, chaired by the compliance manager, prevents law violations in advance by reporting the status of inspection and operation results to the board of directors regularly. Employees exchanged internal and external fair trade issues on transparent management through on-line and offline training, resulting in a company-wide knowledge.
We send out fair trade newsletters, distribute guidelines and checklists, and conduct frequent inspections to all departments in the Compliance Council to enhance our internal supervisory structure and encourage employees to voluntarily implement fair trade. To ensure that all business partners have equal opportunities, the principle of competitive bidding is applied to all transactions.
Fair trade principles, such as the prohibition of unfair commerce, collusion, and unfair competition, are stipulated and disclosed on the official website for competitors. In the fair trade sector, Kia will fulfill its corporate social duty by working to promote a fair competitive order and a transparent business culture.
Key Achievements
Appointment of Compliance Officer
The Compliance Officer who is also the Head of Finance and Accounting Division and designated by the Board of Directors has been chairing and operating the Compliance Council since May 3, 2012.
- Compliance Management Team presides, Legal Affairs Team advises, and teams in each sector supervises
Providing CP education
Continuous CP training includes customized on-site training
- Audience: members of sales divisions in Korea, managers or higher from plants
Monthly Fair Trade Day for key departments
Holds training sessions for newly hires and special lectures by fair trade experts
Internal monitoring system
Prevention of violations of the Act through the prior business consultation system in the implementation of affairs related to fair trade
Each department’s implementation of self-inspection checklist with frequent sector-level inspections
Implementation of internal inspection of autonomous compliance managers
Document control system
Operating website to Fair Trade Compliance
Continuous effort in CP: revise and update related regulations and guidelines. CP included in the standard business procedure.
Ethical marketing
Through advertising and marketing, Kia provides the necessary knowledge and information for vehicles and services selection, thereby maximizing the consumer's right to know and make reasonable choice. In addition, Kia strives to deliver information necessary for a convenient consumption life for vulnerable groups such as the disabled and the elderly, and pursues ethical marketing that does not undermine competitor products as false or deceptive.