Strategy
Our commitment to Human Rights
The Group firmly believes that respect for human rights is integral to its long-term future because it inspires the confidence of its internal and external stakeholders. For this reason, Bouygues has long enshrined this principle in its Code of Ethics. In 2024, the Group drew up a Human Rights Policy with a view to reasserting its long-standing commitment to respect for people – one of its core values.
I expect all senior executives, managers and employees to contribute to the steady implementation of this policy, which is crucial for the Group’s long-term future, and to embody our commitments on a day-to-day basis.”
Bouygues has undertaken various human rights-related initiatives, such as becoming a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact in 2006 and producing a CSR Charter for Suppliers and Subcontractors.
The Human Rights Policy, published in 2025, follows a risk-based approach tailored to the diversity of the Group’s businesses and the geographies in which it operates. It aims to address the diverse expectations of employees, customers, investors and other stakeholders.
Promoting respect for human rights
The Human Rights Policy is intended to guide the actions of all those who work for and with Bouygues throughout the world.
The policy aims to promote respect for the fundamental rights of the Group’s employees and those working for its companies along the value chains of its entities. It clearly spells out the Group’s stance on the protection of human rights and defines a common framework made up of 12 commitments that the entities must translate into their everyday, local actions.
A collaborative process
Bouygues convened a working group comprising representatives of different functions (health and safety, CSR, HR, legal affairs, purchasing, etc.) to ensure that its Human Rights Policy adequately addressed the growing expectations and demands of its stakeholders, and that it reflected the latest developments in duty of care-related regulations. The drafting process began in autumn 2023.
The policy was developed and expanded throughout 2024 through a collaborative process:
- Members of the Group Management Committee and business-segment executive committees were directly involved in drafting the policy.
- The policy was developed in conjunction with operational experts from the Group’s six business segments to ensure it was aligned with realities on the ground (mapping, etc.).
- A stakeholder committee meeting was convened to invite input from 11 individuals representing Bouygues’ various stakeholder groups, such as employee representative bodies, international organisations, investors, and experts on Business and Human Rights. The meeting was attended by Chief Executive Officer Olivier Roussat.
On 17 October 2024, the Human Rights Policy was presented to the Ethics, CSR and Patronage Committee, which reported back to Bouygues’ Board of Directors.
In 2025, Bouygues will roll out a communication plan and training and awareness campaigns to support the adoption of the policy across all Group entities.
These commitments cover the following 12 areas:
- forced and illegal labour,
- child labour,
- working hours,
- remuneration and employee benefits,
- employee housing conditions,
- occupational health, safety and security,
- inclusion, preventing discrimination and harassment,
- skills development and employability,
- employees’ freedom of association, collective bargaining rights and freedom of expression,
- confidentiality and data protection,
- affected communities,
- human rights across the value chain and responsible purchasing practices.
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