Human Rights Policy

Human Rights Principles 

MS Reinsurance* recognizes its responsibility to respect human rights and seeks to act in accordance with national and internationally recognized human rights and standards, including the Bermuda Human Rights Act 1981, the International Bill of Human Rights, the UN Global Compact 10 Principles, the International Labor Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, making them integral to the way it operates.

MS Reinsurance is working hard to guard against being complicit in human rights violations and to uphold the human rights of its staff and any other individuals that it is in contact with, either directly or indirectly, for instance, its cedents, its suppliers, and business partners.

When conducting its business, MS Reinsurance will:

• seek to avoid causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts through its own activities and seek to address such impacts, if they do occur, in a timely and appropriate manner;
• seek to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights impacts that are directly related to its operations, products and services through its business relationships;
• not engage with third parties that are known to be in breach of this Policy;
• provide for, or cooperate in their remediation through legitimate processes, if it has identified that it may have caused or contributed to any adverse human rights impacts; and
• will continue to look for ways to support the promotion of human rights within any of its operations which are within its sphere of influence.

Human Rights Statements 

The statements below draw upon the International Bill of Human Rights and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work:

Child Labor: MS Reinsurance will not use child labor and will comply with all relevant and applicable laws in this regard. MS Reinsurance has in place and supports legitimate workplace apprenticeships and other similar programs for young people to introduce them to the workplace that comply with applicable laws and regulations.

Modern Slavery: MS Reinsurance has a zero-tolerance approach to human trafficking or the use of forced, bonded, or involuntary labor. Prior to engaging with suppliers, MS Reinsurance conducts comprehensive and proportionate due diligence checks in relation to reputable suppliers to ensure that we do not inadvertently support modern slavery.

Health and Safety: All MS Reinsurance employees work in an environment that is safe and healthy and which is line with our Health and Safety Policy.

Freedom of Association and thought: MS Reinsurance recognizes the importance of dialogue with its employees about their working environment and actively takes measures to seek employees’ views about working at MS Reinsurance through regular confidential surveys.

Equality of treatment: MS Reinsurance is fully committed to eliminating discrimination in recruitment, training, and working conditions on grounds of race, color, place of origin, ethnic or national origin, sex or sexual orientation, marital status, disability, family status, age, profession, religion, faith or beliefs or political opinion. MS Reinsurance promotes equality of opportunity and treatment as outlined in its Code of Conduct.

Employment Terms: MS Reinsurance provides all staff with clear contracts of employment which detail the terms and conditions of its staff employment. MS Reinsurance complies with all applicable law in relation to its employment practices.

Renumeration: MS Reinsurance provides wages and benefits that meet national standards. MS Reinsurance is committed to equal pay and benefits for men and women for work of equal value.

Human Rights Due Diligence 

MS Reinsurance recognizes that specific attention must be paid to monitoring and assuring the respect and protection of human rights in our underwriting activities as well as in connection with employment, engagement with our suppliers, and investments. All MS Reinsurance functions are required to make reasonable efforts to understand the potential impact of activities and engagements with third parties as part of their due diligence and make efforts to avoid causing or contributing to (and seek to prevent or mitigate, and then remediate) adverse human rights impacts.

Furthermore, the following are potential human rights violations that MS Reinsurance would consider to be egregious, and which warrant specific consideration as to how they may be avoided or mitigated as part of our robust procurement, investment, and underwriting decision-making:

• Abuses such as slavery or war crimes 
• Child labor 
• Restriction of access to water 
• Rape and sexual abuse 
• Torture

Grievance and remediation

Where a human rights violation is identified, MS Reinsurance will work with all parties involved to seek access to remedy and justice for the victim. MS Reinsurance is committed to ensuring that all unethical behavior is called out and has a Speak Up policy and process, which it encourages all staff to use in order to raise any concerns they may have. MS Reinsurance will investigate, address and respond to the concerns of employees, and anyone raising a genuine concern which is in the public interest will be protected from victimization or retaliation.

MS Reinsurance's responsibility 

MS Reinsurance will review its Human Rights policy regularly with regard to its relevance and effectiveness and will address any deficiencies as necessary.

*The terms "the company", "MS Reinsurance", or "the organization", as used throughout this page, refers to MS Amlin AG, including all its branches, as well as to all subsidiaries.