[...] that pertain to human rights, such as our Code of Conduct, our Social Charter, our Environment, Health and Safety Policy, and our Charter on Access to Health in Developing Countries. The Human Rights Charter defines our company's expectations while increasing awareness of human rights within the company. It also allows us to more accurately assess Group-specific risks and to align our business operations with our Values. Since the Human Rights Charter includes core labor standards of the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Human Rights Charter is replacing our Social Charter. Procurement Policy: Through our Group Procurement Policy, updated in 2013, we are [...]

[...] (standard contract) with at least 15 vacation days/year2 95 94 96 95 98 % of female employees with access to maternity leave programs3 97 100 100 100 100 % of employees with the right to collective bargaining4 76 96 96 97 97 % of employees working at companies where collective agreements apply Not recorded Not recorded* Not recorded* Not recorded* 68 % of sites that rule out complicity in child labor as described in ILO Convention 138 100 100 100 100 100 Age of youngest employees, excluding apprentices 17 17 18 18 16 XLS Download Local minimum wage 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 * Minimum wage as stipulated by law, or derived from other provisions such as collective [...]

[...] sectors, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is well placed to contribute meaningfully in the field of healthcare. Access to medical care is a universal human right and we want to make sure that it becomes a reality for everyone. For that reason, we have partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat the tropical disease schistosomiasis. We are donating praziquantel tablets, which are needed to treat this dangerous and wide-spread parasitic worm disease. To date, 38 million children in 19 countries have already been treated. And we intend to do more. After all, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has committed to donating tablets until schistosomiasis has [...]