Leading fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. reaffirms its pledge to observe responsible business practice, submitting its Communication on Progress (CoP) for 2023 to the United Nations (UN) on strides made in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption, as enshrined in the UN Global Compact.
“Reporting on our sustainability gains is part of the push for transparency and accountability expected of signatories to the UN Global Compact. Converge is proud to share how we’ve been making progress in fulfilling the Ten Principles of the UNGC in 2023, which embody our responsibility to safeguard our people and our planet,” said Converge Chief Sustainability Officer Benjamin B. Azada.
Each company participating in the UN Global Compact is expected to submit an annual report – the Communication on Progress – supporting the Ten Principles for reconfirmation. These Ten Principles, which include commitments such as elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor, and encouraging the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies, are spread across the four issue areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.
The UN Global Compact is a call to companies to align their strategies and operations with ten universal principles related to human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption, and take actions that advance societal goals and the implementation of the SDGs.
The Company continues to uphold customer privacy and data security, which is central to its Human Rights Policy. In the area of labor, Converge champions workforce welfare through offering various benefits, engagement programs, and talent development to build leaders within its ranks.
In pursuit of its anti-corruption agenda, Converge employs various measures, including business integrity policies, transparency promotion, and technology utilization, to effectively manage corruption risks. The revised Anti-Bribery/ Anti-Corruption Policy incorporates standards from the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and Philippine anti-corruption laws.
In the environment domain, Converge continues to intensify its renewable efforts by seeking opportunities to enhance energy efficiency and maximize the use of renewable energy. It conducted electrical audits, culminating in rectifications to align with the requirements for obtaining an Energy Management Systems certification (ISO 50001). The company also sustained efforts in procuring renewal energy from a mix of geothermal, solar, wind and hydroelectric sources for both the Reliance IT Center and Clark sites.