Code of conduct

Respect, cooperation, and social responsibility are the basis for sustainable business success.
At thyssenkrupp this philosophy has a long history. The German social security system is based in part on models our company introduced 160 years ago. Equal opportunities and fair pay in line with local standards are a matter of course for us. We offer wages and benefits at least in accordance with national and local statutory and industry standards, including retirement and healthcare benefits.

Furthermore thyssenkrupp has signed up to the UN Global Compact and is committed to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the core labor standards of the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Our Corporate Social Responsibility is also documented by the International Framework Agreement (IFA) on global minimum labor standards in the Group which thyssenkrupp developed together with the Group workers’ council, the metalworkers' union IG Metall, and the global union federation "IndustriALL Global Union". The IFA is based on the ILO's Core Labor Standards and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For the IFA there is an online reporting system available which all employees as well as third parties can use to report cases where standards and principles are not being observed.

The main principles and rules governing our actions as well as the standards we set ourselves in our dealings with business partners and stakeholders are summarized in the thyssenkrupp Code of Conduct. For employees, managers, and the board, it provides framework guidance on the following issues:

Compliance with the law
Avoiding conflicts of interest
Fair competition
Preventing money laundering
Equal treatment and non-discrimination
Human and labor rights
Cooperation with employee representatives
Occupational safety and health
Sustainability and protection of environment and climate
Donations
Political lobbying
Presentation in public and communications
Reporting
Confidential company information/inside information
Data protection and information security
Protection of company property

thyssenkrupp is aware of its social responsibility and therefore complies with the fiscal and customs laws and regulations in all countries and fulfills all tax and customs obligations resulting thereof in due time as laid out in the internal Group Regulation Taxes & Customs as well as our Code of Conduct. Business models and transactions are structured in a tax and customs compliant way, taking into account the legitimate interest to keep taxes and customs duties reasonably low. Aggressive tax and customs avoidance activities or artificial structures are not pursued. Risk management has a high priority. The implemented Tax Compliance Management System ensures compliance with tax laws and regulations by the organizational setup, processes and controls. In this context of compliance and efficiency, a responsible tax and customs planning and tax and customs consulting in accordance with laws and regulations is carried out. thyssenkrupp meets internationally accepted standards and principles by paying taxes in those countries in which the actual economic value is created. The relationship with financial and customs authorities is characterized by mutual trust and respect. Information is provided completely, correctly, timely and comprehensibly. thyssenkrupp closely observes developments in tax policy and regulations to be able to implement the respective measures in time and addresses its legitimate interests or concerns within associations, but does not engage in direct tax related lobbying activities.

thyssenkrupp discloses country-specific tax information for all Group entities on an annual basis, including earnings before taxes, income tax payments and income tax expenses, within the framework of its legal obligations to the German Federal Central Tax Office (country-bycountry reporting). The tax information disclosed as part of the country-by-country reporting is based primarily on the Consolidated Financial Statements issued under IFRS.