Every year on 10 December, the United Nations commemorates International Human Rights Day to remind us that human rights are repeatedly violated around the world. As an international retail and tourism company, we at REWE Group have been committed to strengthening human rights and preventing their violation for many years.since 1 January 2023, we have also been legally obliged to do so under the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG).

This is where our Human Rights Officer Nicola Tanaskovic comes into play. The Head of Sustainability works with her team and various specialist departments to identify, minimise and avoid risks to people and the environment in our supply chains and in our own business areas. We spoke to her.

Nicola Tanaskovic one: Mrs Tanaskovic, what does a human rights officer actually do?
Nicola Tanaskovic: As a human rights officer, I check the implementation of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act at REWE Group. Admittedly, the role sounds a little abstract: the law sets out requirements that companies based in Germany with at least 3,000 employees must fulfil to protect people and the environment. From 2024, it will even apply to companies with at least 1,000 employees. As a human rights officer, I check whether the respective measures are being implemented appropriately. I also check how complaints about potential violations of human rights and environmental obligations in our supply chains or within our own company are resolved. I regularly report the results of my audits to the Management Board, which is ultimately responsible for compliance with the LkSG.

one: January marks the first anniversary of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act. What challenges has the law brought with it?
Nicola Tanaskovic : REWE Group has been involved in specific projects for years to strengthen human rights, prevent child and forced labour and promote fair trade. Thanks to the LkSG, there is now also a legal requirement for this. Especially in REWE Group's decentralised structures, implementing the law requires a lot of resources and cooperation between different departments and companies. As the law will not come into force until 2023, there is no experience yet - the processes must therefore be repeatedly reviewed from a legal perspective and adapted if necessary.

one: How is REWE Group mastering these challenges and how has the law changed your work in the area of Sustainability?
Nicola Tanaskovic: We have set up a central project team to coordinate implementation across the Group. Four colleagues from my team are implementing the project and working closely with various departments from the different REWE Group companies. In addition to the central project team, we have created other new roles within REWE Group. The so-called "Implementation Officers" implement the LkSG requirements in the individual REWE Group companies together with other "Implementation Officers". "Case managers" review incoming complaints and - if a case is confirmed - work together with the relevant departments to find solutions. I am impressed by how much expertise we have been able to build up in the first year. And I am very proud of my team and my colleagues at REWE Group, who are all pulling together and have already achieved a lot together.

one: On International Human Rights Day on 10 December, the United Nations reminds us that these rights are repeatedly violated around the world. What is the situation in the REWE Group supply chain - have there been any complaints in the first year after the LkSG came into force?
Nicola Tanaskovic: It is clear to us that human rights are non-negotiable. That's why we take every complaint very seriously. If a case is confirmed, measures are initiated immediately. Fortunately, this has rarely been the case so far - and yet we are constantly working to prevent violations of human rights and environmental obligations through various measures. Confirmed violations have so far mainly been identified in the upstream supply chain, i.e. at the suppliers of our direct suppliers. In order to make a difference in the third or fourth stage - i.e. at the suppliers of the suppliers' suppliers - close cooperation with our direct contractual partners is essential.

one: Let's imagine a fictitious scenario: A buyer reports to us that one of our suppliers of fir trees is not implementing sufficient health and safety measures for its employees.what happens after we receive the complaint?
Nicola Tanaskovic: The complaints procedure follows a defined process that is set out in our rules of procedure . If complaints are received via the complaints system or by email, our central coordination centre checks whether it is actually a violation of the prohibitions or protected rights defined in the LkSG. These include, for example, the ban on child labour, forced labour, disregard for occupational health and safety or the ban on harmful effects on the environment. The coordination centre forwards the case to a case manager, who holds discussions with the affected parties, suppliers and relevant departments, such as Purchasing or Human Resources, in order to investigate the case. If a complaint is confirmed, countermeasures are initiated immediately. In our fictitious case, this would mean that we define measures together with our Christmas tree supplier to ensure that its employees are adequately protected at work. The effectiveness of these measures is then reviewed at regular intervals. Once the case has been finally resolved, the coordination centre will provide feedback to the whistleblowers.

one: What role do our own employees play in this process?
Nicola Tanaskovic: Employees play a key role in protecting human rights and the environment in our supply chains and in our own company. We have therefore included our expectations of our employees in our policy statement on the LkSG. For REWE Group, it is important that all employees respect human rights and environmental standards in their daily work. This applies not only to their own behaviour, but also to that of colleagues and suppliers.

one: The current law only applies to Germany. However, EU-wide legislation is already being worked on at European level. What do you expect from politicians?
Nicola Tanaskovic: REWE Group has been in favour of an international solution for years. We therefore support the current debate at EU level. However, we should already start thinking beyond the borders of the EU and work towards global standards and norms in the long term. Global supply chains require internationally harmonised laws. With this regulatory support, we as a German retail company could exert an even more effective influence on protecting people and the environment in our global supply chains.