Global Human Rights

We are a people-centered company committed to the highest standards of conduct in our daily human interactions and business dealings. For us, human rights are more than just being compliant, they are about doing the right thing.

• Our Guiding Principles outline the critical role KE plays as a corporate citizen for our customers, our people, our supply partners, our share owners, our environment, and our communities. Our human rights beliefs are deeply rooted in our Guiding Principles.
• Our extensive Global Human Rights Policy is accessible in its entirety on KE’s Environmental, Social and Governance Web site. The standards in this policy apply to all our operations, regardless of their geographic location. We also require our suppliers, contractors, and business partners to adhere to this same policy.
• We believe in the inherent value of all individuals and their inalienable rights and acknowledge the risks of specific impacts to particularly vulnerable segments of society, including minorities, women, and indigenous peoples. We respect internationally recognized human rights principles.
• We believe that no company should prosper while violating the basic human rights of others, whether through unlawful slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labor, or otherwise exploitative means.
• To raise awareness of our commitment to human rights and to foster compliance with our Human Rights Policy, we have incorporated this policy as an integral part of our Code of Conduct and train all of our employees worldwide on human rights issues annually.
• We support and comply with child and compulsory labor laws worldwide. We do not accept or condone any aspect of forced or unlawful child labor or of human trafficking. In accordance with conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), we do not make use of forced, bonded, or child labor to manufacture or assemble products.
• Both within our own operations and our supply chain, we require remuneration to be consistent with the provisions of all applicable wage laws, including those relating to the minimum wage, overtime/ overtime premiums, maximum working hours, and legally mandated benefits. We prohibit wage deductions as disciplinary measures. We promote and apply principles of economic inclusion for our employees, customers, and the suppliers we select, including the principle of equal pay for work of equal value, in all countries where we and our supply chain operate.

Photo: A freshwater system that KE financially supported through Water to Thrive, a nonprofit organization based in Austin, Texas, became operational in the village of Mugno Galo, Ethiopia, in 2022. Estimated number of people positively affected: 1,200. (Photo provided by Water to Thrive)

• We require that all employment, whether with KE or with our suppliers, complies with applicable laws, regulations, and prevailing labor relations and employment practices, including those concerning hours, compensation, overtime payments, opportunity, and working conditions. Work weeks cannot exceed the maximum set by local law and workers shall be allowed at least one day off every seven days.
• We work to ensure that all employees receive a living wage under humane living/ working conditions at KE and throughout our supply chain, meaning workers earn enough to provide food, housing, and basic needs for themselves and their dependents, regardless of the country where they work.
• The right to water is a fundamental human right. KE works toward understanding and applying sound practices for land and water use consistent with emerging international practices while considering the impact of its global activities on water stress (defined as lack of quantity, quality, and accessibility of water).
• KE strives to respect human rights in support of our environmental management policies and goals (see the Environmental section of this report).
• Animals are not components in our supply chain, and neither our manufacturing nor our design processes involve experimentation on animals.
• In fiscal year 2022, zero forced labor, child labor, human trafficking, bribery, facilitation payments, corruption, anti-competitive acts (including false/deceptive marketing practices), or other priority non-conformance incidents (including labor rights, health and safety, and compliance with our Global Supplier Quality Manual and Code of Conduct by our suppliers) were reported to management and none were forwarded to local authorities, or, if appropriate, to a human rights organization for further investigation.
• We provided training to 100% of our employees annually on our Code of Conduct, including our Human Rights Policy, other core human rights matters, and how to report matters of concern to KE. The training is translated to meet the language needs of all of our employees.
• Our employee training includes how to recognize signs of potential human rights abuses, corruption, facilitation payments, and bribery.

Our Human Rights Policy derives from principles such as those defined in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the two International Covenants making up the International Bill of Human Rights; the United Nations’ Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work; the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the guidance provided by ISO 26000.