Local Communities
As an industrial group, Michelin has a strong local footprint in many countries.
The Michelin group wishes to carry out its activities in harmony with local communities wherever it is established and seeks to ensure that its presence is as beneficial to them as possible.
Context
The impact of our activities concerns, on the one hand, major projects (construction of a new factory, closure of a site, purchase of rubber plantations) and, on the other hand, ongoing activity at operational sites.
In compliance with international human rights standards, Michelin is committed to ensuring that its activities do not harm the health or safety of local communities, do not deprive them of their access to natural resources (water, food, land, habitat), and do not disrupt their cultures or economic activities. It is also committed to ensure that our operations can generate positive effects on their development.
Values and Guiding Principles
The Michelin group wishes to carry out its activities in harmony with local communities wherever it is established and seeks to ensure that its presence is as beneficial to them as possible. To this end, it makes the following commitments:
- Identify the interests and needs of the surrounding populations very early on in a construction, site development or land acquisition project. This consultation work with stakeholders concerned or impacted by the project includes the potentially most vulnerable groups.
- Look for favorable and beneficial opportunities and actions for local stakeholders (employment, joint projects); prevent the risk of negative occurrences; adjust our projects so that they benefit them as much as possible and do not adversely affect their health, safety, access to natural resources or their cultural heritage during the construction phase or when the site is in operation.
- Maintain direct, regular, transparent and high-quality communication with local communities and all stakeholders present near operating sites.
- Establish a mechanism for handling complaints. In the event of damage to the environment or to local populations, address each complaint and propose appropriate repair and compensation plans. Make this system known to local communities.
For the attention of site directors, directors of new site construction or site closure projects, and mergers/acquisitions managers:
Do: I must
In all circumstances
- Identify the risks and opportunities for local populations related to the construction of a new site, the activity of a site in current operation or the closure of a site.
- Inform myself of the existence of any local regulations applying to specific population segments (particularly disadvantaged populations) and ensure the protection of the cultural heritage of local populations.
- Put in place action plans based on the results of the previous step in order to eliminate or, failing that, mitigate any negative consequences and to develop positive opportunities for local populations.
- Set up a formalized and easily accessible complaints mechanism so that any possible complaints from local communities are effectively dealt with and publicize this mechanism.
For sites in operation:
- Establish regular and constructive dialogue with local residents near the sites.
- Encourage partnerships with local stakeholders (associations, schools, research centers, companies, etc.) which can generate positive impacts on the well-being and development of the surrounding populations.
- Deploy a Reaching Out to Local Communities (IVL) program on each site with more than 400 employees.
- Refer to the requirements of the EP (Environment & Prevention) standards for the use of natural resources. (Objective: limit pollution, the extraction of scarce resources or any damage to the health and safety of local communities).
During the construction of an industrial site:
- Inform local stakeholders of the consequences of the construction project through direct communication. Take into account their interests and requests in order to carry out the work in a satisfactory manner for them. The approach should not be limited to dialogue with local authorities. It can be performed by an external firm, in partnership with Michelin.
- Give priority to local recruitments when possible. Respect the principles of equal opportunity and non-discrimination.
- Give priority to the training of local populations when the job requirements allow it.
When closing a site:
- Take all the necessary measures to clean up the site.
- Promote the redeployment of employees.
- Support employment in conjunction with local authorities.
When buying and managing plantations:
- Document the land settlement process to ensure we know the history of the property.
- Respect the people’s right of use and access to land, so that they continue to cultivate their food crops.
- Sustainably use natural rubber plantations. Refer to the responsible natural rubber policy which sets out Michelin's commitments in social (recruitment, training, first aid), economic (respect for food safety) and environmental (conservation, biodiversity) matters.
Don't: I must not
- Carry out a new location project without taking into account the interests and demands of the main local stakeholders. Engage in direct dialogue.
- Fail to follow up on questions or possible complaints raised by local stakeholders.
- Limit dialogue to government authorities only.
Practical case 1
You are a project manager in charge of building a new factory in a country. A piece of land has been identified and the project has been approved by the local municipality. Is this enough to start construction?
No. Before validating this project, you must broaden the dialogue with other stakeholders. You ask your team to contact local associations, businesses, and schools in order to organize discussions or consultations.
You may be able to hire an external firm to help you in this process.
Practical case 2
Responsible for a human resources team in a country, you are considering recruiting locally. However, most of the candidates are not trained in the professions of the Group. What do you do?
Before considering recruiting in more distant employment pools, you study the possibility of training local populations, in partnership with training organizations.
Before considering recruiting in more distant employment pools, you study the possibility of training local populations, in partnership with training organizations.
