Living Wage Policy and Public Commitment
1. Executive Summary
Solapave is committed to ensuring that all employees in our operations receive a living wage. This policy outlines our public commitment, defines our approach to implementing living wages, and establishes measurable targets for achieving full compliance across our global operations.
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2. Policy Statement
Solapave publicly commits to paying all employees in our owned operations a living wage. We recognize that a living wage is fundamental to decent work and is essential for employees to meet their basic needs and participate fully in society.
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3. Definition of Living Wage
For the purpose of this policy, we define a living wage as:
"Remuneration received for a standard work week by a worker in a particular place sufficient to afford a decent standard of living for the worker and their family. Elements of a decent standard of living include food, water, housing, education, health care, transport, clothing, and other essential needs, including provision for unexpected events."
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4. Scope
This policy applies to all full-time, part-time, and contract employees directly employed by Solapave in our owned operations globally.
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5. Measurable Commitments and Targets
Solapave commits to the following measurable targets:
i. By the end of fiscal year 2024:
• 100% of employees in our owned operations will be paid at or above the calculated living wage for their location.
• We will publicly disclose the percentage of our workforce currently receiving a living wage, broken down by region.
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ii. By the end of fiscal year 2025:
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• We will implement a system to annually review and adjust wages to ensure they keep pace with changes in living costs.
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iii. By the end of fiscal year 2026:
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• We will extend our living wage commitment to key suppliers, with the goal of 50% of our tier 1 suppliers implementing a living wage policy.
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6. Implementation Strategy
i. Living Wage Calculation:
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• We will partner with recognised organisations such as the Global Living Wage Coalition or WageIndicator Foundation to determine location-specific living wage benchmarks.
• In locations where established benchmarks are not available, we will conduct our own studies using the Anker Methodology.
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ii. Wage Gap Analysis:
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• Conduct an annual analysis to identify any gaps between current wages and living wage benchmarks.
• Develop action plans to close identified gaps within specified timeframes.
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iii. Budgetary Allocation:
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• Allocate necessary funds in annual budgets to support wage increases required to meet living wage commitments.
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iv. Training and Communication:
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• Provide training to management on the importance of living wages and implementation strategies.
• Communicate our living wage commitment and progress to all employees.
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v. Supplier Engagement:
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• Develop guidance and support programs to assist suppliers in implementing living wage policies.
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7. Monitoring and Reporting
i. Internal Monitoring:
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• Conduct quarterly reviews of wage data to track progress towards living wage targets.
• Integrate living wage compliance into our internal audit processes.
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ii. External Verification:
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• Engage an independent third party to annually verify our living wage calculations and implementation.
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iii. Public Reporting:
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• Publish an annual Living Wage Report on our corporate website, detailing:
• Percentage of employees receiving a living wage, by region
• Living wage benchmarks used for each location
• Progress towards targets
• Challenges encountered and strategies for overcoming them
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iv. Stakeholder Engagement:
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• Regularly engage with employees, unions, and civil society organizations to gather feedback on our living wage implementation.
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8. Governance
i. Board Oversight:
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• The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors will oversee the implementation of this policy.
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ii. Executive Accountability:
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• The Chief Human Resources Officer is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of this policy.
• Living wage targets will be included in relevant executive performance evaluations.
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9. Continuous Improvement
We commit to continuously improving our approach to living wages by:
• Annually reviewing and updating this policy.
• Staying informed about evolving best practices in living wage implementation.
• Participating in industry initiatives and multi-stakeholder forums on living wages.
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10. Public Commitment Communication
We will communicate our living wage commitment publicly through:
• Our corporate website.
• Annual sustainability reports.
• Investor communications.
• Employee handbooks and onboarding materials.
• Supplier Code of Conduct.
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Solapave believes that paying a living wage is not only the right thing to do for our employees but also a sound business strategy that will enhance productivity, employee retention, and our reputation. This policy demonstrates our measurable commitment to making living wages a reality for all our employees.