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1 Oct 2008

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Article 13

Barloworld - helping to shape human rights history in South Africa

In 1978, Barloworld finalised “The Barloworld Rand Group Code of Employment Practice”, a human rights-based code providing equal rights for workers...In essence, the Code embedded the right to non-discrimination and demonstrated that companies could draft and implement policies supportive of human rights even in the face of oppressive laws and attitudes...Implementation meant that racism was prohibited and employees who did not comply were disciplined or fired. At the Barloworld subsidiary, Middelburg Steel and Alloy (MS&A), changes included the provision of homes for black employees, use of the same toilets and facilities for all employees, which was against the law at the time, improved skills and adult literacy as well as greater opportunity for black employees...Today, Barloworld is still actively involved in education, job creation and community infrastructure as part of its broader focus but it has also expanded this focus to include some of the new challenges facing South Africa...

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