VakıfBank aims to create a respectable business environment to human rights within the scope of sustainable banking understanding and to raise awareness and consciousness of its employees, customers and shareholders by extending this understanding.
VakıfBank makes its best efforts to fulfill the requirements of the United Nations Human Rights Universal Declaration and International Labor Organization in addition to the Labor Law No. 4857, and the international treaties which Türkiye is a party. Within the framework of the basic principles of the International Labor Organization, VakıfBank aims to make a difference in the areas of employment, working conditions and provide equal opportunities to its employees by operating in human rights processes.
Within the scope of the principle of the International Labor Organization in the "Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights in Working Life", that remove the discrimination in employment and occupation, VakıfBank attaches importance to women's employment. As being the first Turkish state institution to sign the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and making its policy visible in this matter, VakıfBank has been selected for the third time to the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index (Bloomberg GEI) that conducts the largest gender equality research on a global scale.
VakıfBank offers steps based on gender equality in career progression. In line with this purpose, VakıfBank responds to the differentiated needs and demands of women employees who are parents. Special precautions are taken to look after female parents and continuing their career path is given importance. Thus, VakıfBank aims to create a business environment that will ensure female parents to benefit from career opportunities equally.
As one of the signatories of the "Declaration of Equality at Work", VakıfBank guaranteed to be against discrimination based on gender and to lead these principles to extend around the country with this declaration. VakıfBank also takes required precautions to ensure health, security, welfare of all employees regardless of gender and maintains a business environment ruled by equality, dignity and peace.
VakıfBank is against for forced and compulsory labor and expects this approach from its customers in accordance with the Forced Labor Convention No. 29 of the International Labor Organization.
As determined in the “Discrimination (Work and Occupation) Agreement No.111” and in accordance with human rights and the Ethical Principles of VakıfBank, VakıfBank’s employees are obliged to execute its relations with each other and customers without discriminating in terms of language, religion, ethnicity, gender, philosophical belief, sectarian, etc. and within the framework of sincerity, trust, objectivity and transparency principles. Additionally, the employees are obliged to avoid mistreatments and spoiling the business environment.
VakıfBank’s employee can convey all their notifications and complaints via the Ethical Reporting Line and the Internal Audit Notice Page which is an internal confidentiality- based complaint mechanism on Bank's information system page. These complaints are not used against the person who makes the complaint and the situation is concluded by investigating earnestly. In case of any confirmed discrimination, harassment or other mistreatment, the Bank is liable to apply the administrative sanctions to the responsible person.
VakıfBank avoids from all kinds of practices that will cause unfair competition regarding employee recruitment. As per the Labor Law No. 4857 and provisions of relevant legislation, besides there is a recruitment contract and freedom of movement, VakıfBank also cares about employee recruitment to be in a certain extent in order not to prevent services of the other banks.
In accordance with national legislation, “Minimum Age Convention No. 138” and “Urgent Action Convention on the Prohibition and Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labor No. 182”, activities or projects of people and organizations, who are found to be employing child labor, behaving against human rights and recruiting in the fields that are prohibited and restricted by international conventions which Türkiye is a party are not financed by VakıfBank.
VakıfBank employees work pursuant to private law provisions and are employed in compliance with provisions of Labor Law No.4857. The Bank respects unionization and collective bargaining agreement right which is a constitutional right. The Bank shows utmost effort to create a healthy business environment. Employees are the members of the Bank and Insurance Employees Union (BASS) and the working conditions are determined with the collective bargaining agreements signed between the Bank and aforesaid union. Relationship between employees and employer is carried out by the executives and representatives of the union.
In addition to taking the necessary measures within the framework of legal regulations on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), in-class, live virtual classroom and e-learning trainings are provided regularly to the employees by the Corporate Academy Department on occupational health and safety. In addition to the "Occupational Health and Safety" trainings, in-class and e-learning trainings such as "Basic First Aid", “First Aid Update" are also given to the Bank's employees and related personnel on a regular basis. Personnel determined as "Employee Representatives" are trained based on related content training programme.
VakıfBank provides training on professional, technical and personal development to its employees in order to improve their know-how, skills and the work-flow. Trainings are planned on a role-based basis, and all employees are provided with equal opportunities to participate in the trainings. In-class and video trainings include topics that will support the development of employees in customer relations and customer experience, strengthen communication between customers and employees, and increase customer satisfaction.
In order to raise awareness on social responsibility and sustainability, in-class and online trainings are given to the employees such as “Sustainability”, “ISO 9001 Quality Management System”, “ISO 14001 Environmental Management System”, “ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System”, “Zero Waste”, “Integrated” Management System and Auditor”, “KVKK”, “Clean Desk”, “Prevention of Laundering Proceeds of Crime and Financing of Terrorism "," Fraud in Banking ". E-learning trainings on subjects are also offered to employees such as "Correct Approach to Disability", "Sign Language", "Ethical Principles" and "Gender Equality in Business Life".
Wishes and complaints of the employees regarding their working conditions, employee rights, duties and responsibilities are conveyed to the employer and monitored by union officers. VakıfBank does not make any discrimination between candidates regarding the processes of both providing services, appointment and promotion of the employees except for competence criteria as stated in the “Non-Discrimination (Work and Occupation) Agreement”.
In compliance with the articles of Labor Law No.4857, issues regarding the overtime in case of a need take place in Articles 68 and 74 of Employee Regulation and Articles 15 and 16 of Collective Bargaining Agreement.