Splashed after that The newspaper revealed that it was using solar panels from a supplier suspected of taking advantage of the services of forced labor camps, Hydro-Quebec is raising its ethical requirements and forcing its partners to have better traceability.
• Read also: Hydro-Quebec will fight with millions of dollars to defend its project
• Read also: Hydro-Québec asks you to reduce electricity to the maximum
“Forced labor has no place in Hydro-Quebec’s supply chain.” This is the title of an electronic notice sent in recent weeks by the crown corporation to the 21,000 companies with which it has or may have relations.
For memory, The Journal revealed in July that Hydro’s two new solar parks – those in La Prairie and Varennes – were fitted with panels manufactured by Jinko Solar., a Chinese company suspected of using Uyghur labor camps.
In the past year, at least two independent investigative reports (American and British) had identified her among companies that profit from the forced labor of persecuted ethnic minorities.
Human rights
In its letter, Hydro asks its suppliers to take the necessary measures so that their supply chains “are free from forced labor” and that their practices “comply with Quebec and international human rights standards as well as labor rights ”.
For suppliers exposed to non-respect for human rights, Hydro asks to adopt “internationally recognized traceability protocols” in order to establish the origin of inputs and to follow their entire chain, from manufacturing to production. distribution of finished products.
“These tools,” she writes, “are essential for improving transparency and ensuring that our supply chain is free from forced labor. “
Close monitoring
Hydro concludes its opinion by explaining that it has made changes to the Code of Conduct and the Solemn Affirmations form, to which all of its suppliers are subject. They are invited to read it.
They also learn that they must respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the conventions of the International Labor Organization and “the guiding principles of the United Nations Global Compact on business and human rights. man”.
Hydro-Québec denies that this will bring about a radical change of culture within the organization. Rather, Francis Labbé, spokesperson for the state-owned company, maintains that the clarifications provided above all have the merit of making “explicit” what had until then remained “implicit”.
The latter insists: these rules apply as much to suppliers as to their subcontractors, whether they are, for example, manufacturers of pestles or distributors of work gloves. “We will do a close follow-up,” he warns. Both locally and internationally. Everyone is warned. “