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Unilever broadcasts dedication to assist construct a extra inclusive society

Unilever announces its commitment to building a more inclusive society

Unilever is building a fairer and more inclusive society along its value chain

Unilever announced a wide range of commitments and actions designed to help build a fairer and more inclusive society by raising living standards along the value chain, creating opportunities through inclusivity, and preparing people for the future of work.

The company is committed to ensuring that everyone who directly provides goods and services to the company is earning at least a living wage or income by 2030. Spend € 2 billion annually on suppliers owned and managed by people from underrepresented groups by 2025; and develop new employment models for our employees by 2030 and equip 10 million young people with the skills they need to prepare them for job opportunities.

Alan Jope, CEO of Unilever, said: “The two biggest threats the world is facing today are climate change and social inequality. The past year has undoubtedly widened the social divide and decisive and collective action is required to build a society that improves livelihoods, promotes diversity, nurtures talent and offers opportunity for all.

“We believe the actions we are committed to will make Unilever a better and stronger company. ready for the enormous social changes we are experiencing today – changes that will only accelerate. There can be no healthy business without a healthy society. "

Making sure people make a living or an income is a critical step in building a more equitable and inclusive society. It enables people to afford a decent standard of living that covers the basic needs of a family: food, water, housing, education, health care, transportation, clothing; and includes a provision for unexpected events. A living wage should enable workers to fully participate in their communities and help them break the cycle of poverty.

When people earn a living wage or a living income, it has a direct benefit to the economy as it stimulates consumer spending, supports job creation, and helps small businesses reduce employee turnover and improve job productivity and quality improve – which leads to an overall positive economic cycle growth.

Unilever's goal is to improve the living standards of low-wage workers around the world. The company will therefore ensure that everyone who supplies goods and services directly to Unilever is earning at least a living wage or income by 2030.

Unilever has already paid its employees at least one living wage, and we want to ensure the same for more people outside of our workforce, with a specific focus on the most vulnerable workers in manufacturing and agriculture. The company will work with its suppliers, other businesses, governments and NGOs – through purchasing practices, collaboration and advocacy – to bring about systemic change and global adoption of living wage practices.

In parallel, by 2025, Unilever will help 5 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) in our retail value chain grow their businesses through access to skills, finance and technology. The SMEs the company works with are often retailers who operate independently of each other in shops, points of sale and kiosks, or micro-entrepreneurs selling on the street or door to door.

Unilever gives them access to digital tools, financial inclusion and services, as well as public-private models that support social entrepreneurship to grow their business and income.

In addition to improving living standards through economic inclusion, it is also important that Unilever create more opportunities for people from underrepresented groups – both inside and outside our organization. Diversity in the workplace leads directly to improved financial performance as it encourages innovation, creativity and empathy.

Within the company, Unilever will achieve a just culture through advanced policies and practices that eliminate bias and discrimination. They pride themselves on having achieved gender balance in our management around the world, but there is more to be done – for women and for other people.

Through a new strategy for equity, diversity and inclusion, Unilever removes hiring obstacles and prejudices, creates accountability for leading all employees to excel in their roles, and strives for a workforce that is representative of the people in the countries is where they work.

The company's work to promote diversity and inclusion will extend beyond its people and operations as we commit to spending € 2 billion annually on various suppliers by 2025. These suppliers will be small and medium-sized businesses owned and run by women -represented racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities and LGBTQI +.

In addition to its spending, Unilever will support these companies with a new supplier development program that will provide access to skills, funding and networking opportunities. The company will promote supplier diversity across our value chain and encourage our suppliers to have diversity among their respective partners.

Unilever also wants to leverage the strength of its brands and position as the world's second largest advertiser to drive change. They increase the number of ads that show people from different groups both on screen and behind the camera. Unilever will help combat the spread of stereotypes that often persist through advertising and promote greater human representation.