Around the World: Workplace Assessments

• The ILO has accepted the requests independently made by The Coca-Cola Company and the IUF to conduct an investigation and evaluation of Coca-Cola bottling operations in Colombia.  Our company and the Coca-Cola bottlers in Colombia have pledged full cooperation with ILO in completing this investigation and evaluation.  With the ILO’s assessment, we are fulfilling our commitment to an independent, impartial third-party investigation and evaluation of our system’s labor relations and workers’ rights practices in Colombia.

• October 6, 2008 - The ILO has completed its independent evaluation of Coca-Cola bottling operations in Colombia. The report states "everything suggests that conditions of work applicable to direct employees are duly respected, to the extent that they are regulated by legal instruments, collective agreements or accords." The report found that Coca-Cola bottlers are upholding labor standards that have been ratified in Colombia, including confirming that workers enjoy freedom of association, a work atmosphere free of anti-union intimidation and a safe working environment. The ILO did note some areas for improvement unrelated to legal compliance concerning ideal or aspirational human resources practices, which Colombia bottlers are currently evaluating in order to develop action plans for such areas. Coca-Cola bottlers in Colombia have reiterated their commitment to compliance with local law and international labor standards, as well as to continue working towards, the improvement of workplace conditions in their facilities, on behalf of all of their associates. The report can be viewed on the ILO's website at: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/papers/food/mission.pdf

• The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), an India-based nonprofit research organization, conducted an assessment of our Company‘s water management practices in India. The report, released January 14, 2008, verifies that the Coca-Cola Company and its bottlers are in compliance with Indian regulations and, on balance, with the Company‘s own global environmental and quality standards, which are often more stringent than local standards. Click here to read more.