Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Huayou Cobalt to respond to China Labor Watch's report and complete the Business & Human Rights Survey below:

[Unofficial translation by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

Huayou Cobalt gives its employees the greatest degree of respect and care, by way of (including but not limited to) putting in place relevant systems to provide various social insurance benefits for all employees according to the law. In addition, the Company provides numerous forms of employee benefits, such as holiday benefits, clothing benefits, transport benefits, employee event benefits, health checkups, home leave, annual leave, and free vaccinations for employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company serves its employees wholeheartedly and addresses employees' urgent needs by fully dedicating itself to the care and support of employees and by strengthening employees' sense of gain, happiness and security, which in turn fosters an environment where the Company takes care of the wellbeing of the employees while the employees devote themselves to the Company.

Huayou Cobalt and the projects it invests in collaborate closely with all suppliers and clients to satisfy and exceed all global standards on environmental, social and governance (ESG) relevant to our operations, and actively abide by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which includes a zero-tolerance policy against forced labour or child labour.

Huayou Cobalt respects and upholds international human rights laws and strictly abides by Chinese laws and the laws of the host countries. The Company has established a standardised employment system which prohibits the use of child labour, debt (including debt bondage), slavery, prison labour or indentured servitude - as well as a firm stance against human trafficking. The Company seeks to continue to improve its human resources management system to protect employees' legitimate rights and interests, as well as their health and safety, at the same time rejecting forced labour and occupational discrimination.

* (For more information, please consult our Company's report: PT Huayue Nickel Cobalt 2021 ESG Report.

Business & Human Rights Survey

Human rights policy and due diligence

1- Does your company have a publicly available policy commitment to respect human rights in its operations and throughout its business relationships which specifically addresses workers’ rights and references relevant human rights standards (e.g. UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ILO core labour conventions). Yes/No. If yes, provide link.

Our Company has made publicly available the 'Labour Practices and Human Rights Policy' and 'Environmental, Health, and Safety Policy'.

Links: Labour Practices and Human Rights Policy 2022; Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Policy 2022.

2- Does your company have a human rights due diligence process for identifying and prioritising workforce risks in its operations and throughout its business relationships, specifically in your overseas projects (for example, in Indonesia)? Yes/No. If yes, please explain this process and highlight the top three workforce risks you identified.

(Tips: the workforce risks may include but not limited to recruitment, payment and wages, document retention, job mobility & freedom of movement, safety and health, living condition, discrimination, physical and sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment)

Our Company's mechanisms on human rights protection include: Huayou Cobalt's Cobalt Supply Chain Due Diligence Measures; Corporate Social Responsibility Risk Assessment Procedures; Labour Practices and Human Rights Policy; Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Policy; Overseas Recruitment and Overseas Assignment Management Measures; Overseas Employee Passport Management Measures.

Business relationships and human rights

3- Does your company require contractors, subcontractors and other business partners in its operations and supply chains to comply with your human rights and other rights-related policies and procedures? Yes/No.

If yes, please select what following measures towards contractors, subcontractors and other business partners your company has taken (please provide link to relevant policies or other evidence for the selected options):

• Integrate human rights requirements in contract clauses
• Code of Conduct of suppliers/contractors
• Responsible souring policies
• Audit & reporting
• Capacity building training, workshops, meetings, etc.
• Loans and financial support
• Stakeholder engagement
• Other measures, please specify__________

Our Company has made publicly available the Supplier Code of Conduct, Supplier Standard for Responsible Mineral Sourcing, and Policy for a Responsible Global Supply Chain of Minerals from High-Risk Areas. Meanwhile, our Company requests that suppliers sign our Supplier Corporate Social Responsibility Commitment, take part in online training, complete on-site audits and questionnaires, and undertake or accept annual independent third-party audits in order to jointly identify and mitigate human rights risks in the supply chain. References: Policy for a Responsible Global Supply Chain of Minerals from High-Risk Areas (English and Chinese); Supplier Code of Conduct (English and Chinese); Supplier Standard for Responsible Mineral Sourcing (English and Chinese).

Remedy

4- Does your company have an independent, third-party grievance mechanism in place for directly employed and subcontracted workers on your projects to raise concerns, in their own language, and in a way that ensures grievances can be reported safely, without intimidation or retaliation? If so, please provide relevant protocols.

Our Company has established the Huayou Cobalt Grievance Mechanism and has set up a reporting and grievance mechanism on our official website. In China and Indonesia, the Company has set up reporting hotlines and mailboxes with addresses and details of departments-in-charge. Rules governing the grievance mechanisms can be found on the website. Link: Huayou Cobalt Grievance Mechanism.