Child Labour Policy
Aegean Motorway recognizes the reasons for the emergence of Child Labor in the Social Environment in which the company undertakes its activities.
The reasons which this phenomenon is attributed to include poverty as a result of the Global Economic Crisis, unequal opportunities in education depending on the geographical area, as well as the prejudice against certain social groups (refugees and gypsies), which, due to recent political turbulence, have increased in Greece.
Child Labor is a phenomenon of Social Pathogenesis. Children that work are deprived of their most basic rights, such as the right to Education, since school abandonment is inextricably linked to Child Labor. As a result, children are abruptly thrown into the world of adults, they lose their child-like innocence and are forced to mature ahead of time, while their social and professional future becomes uncertain and leading nowhere. Aegean Motorway S.A., in the framework of its activities and resolve, takes action in an endeavor to help the “young breadwinner”. Every action in this direction is examined extensively, taking to heart the best interests of the child, as one-sided measures and policies would merely lead to adverse results and exacerbate the situation. In particular, Aegean Motorway:
- Opposes any form of exploitation of children and, under no circumstances or in no way whatsoever, does it endorse Child Labor.
- Asks that its Partners, Suppliers and Sub-Contractors implement the same Policy and requires to be informed on any divergence whatsoever.
- When coming across the practice of Child Labor by any of its partners, endeavors to handle each case separately and act accordingly.
- Cooperates with the competent Services and Organizations working against Child Exploitation, in an attempt to contribute to the efforts of the said institutions to tackle the problem regarding child labor. These efforts include fighting for the provision of basic education to all, as well as economic support at local level.
On behalf of the Company
Dimitrios Gatsonis
Chief Executive Officer
Moschochori Larissa, July 9, 2010