Human Rights

Respect for human rights is of paramount importance to Volkswagen Financial Services as part of the Volkswagen Group.

We firmly believe that sustainable business can only be achieved by acting ethically and with integrity. Therefore, we unequivocally acknowledge and commit ourselves to our corporate responsibility to respect human rights and the associated environmental standards.

The Group Management Board and the European and Global Group Works Council have enshrined this responsibility in the Social Charter. This document forms the binding basis for social and industrial relationships throughout the Volkswagen Group. In addition, the Social Charter serves as a guideline for shaping relationships with suppliers and other business partners.

We reaffirm our commitment to key international agreements and declarations, in particular the International Bill of Human Rights and the core labor standards of the International Labor Organization (ILO). Furthermore, our business activities align with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the UN Global Compact, which form crucial pillars for our actions.

The Human Rights Officer

In December 2022, Volkswagen Financial Services AG appointed a Human Rights Officer. Markus Lemke is the contact person for all our company's stakeholders and also performs this function for Volkswagen Bank GmbH and Volkswagen Leasing GmbH. Through a professional reporting line to the Human Rights Officer of the Volkswagen Group, Dr. Kerstin Waltenberg, he coordinates on human rights-related issues from authorities, policy-makers and the public.

His key responsibilities include monitoring the adequacy and effectiveness of risk management to ensure compliance with the requirements of the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains ("Supply Chain Due Diligence Act", abbreviated as LkSG in German) and implementing risk-based control measures.

Human rights officer of VOlkswagen Financial Services AG, Volkswagen Bank gmbh and volkswagen Leasing GmbH

Markus Lemke

"Strengthening human rights and protecting our environment. These are topics that have been of concern to our society and me personally for a long time. This is precisely where the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act comes in, by requiring companies to adhere to defined due diligence obligations – in their own operations, but also along the entire supply chain.

As Human Rights Officer, I work with conviction and commitment to ensure exactly this, with the support of dedicated colleagues from the departments HR Compliance, Purchasing, Occupational Safety and Environmental Management."

Core tasks and obligations under the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act

In order to avoid human rights risks and environmental risks, the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act stipulates specific due diligence obligations that companies must adhere to. These obligations include conducting risk analyses, establishing preventive measures, taking remedial actions once legal violations have been identified, and setting up a complaints mechanism (whistleblower system). All measures must be continuously assessed for their effectiveness and documented.

Compliance with these due diligence obligations applies to both the business operations of Volkswagen Financial Services AG, Volkswagen Bank GmbH and Volkswagen Leasing GmbH and its supply chain. This encompasses both direct and indirect suppliers in Germany and abroad.

CEO VOLKswagen financial services AG

Dr. Christian Dahlheim

"Integrity and ethical conduct are the foundational bedrock for the trust that business partners and customers place in us. It is therefore the basis of our entrepreneurial activities and our economic success. Accordingly, we also work to uphold and strengthen human rights and protect the environment throughout our entire sphere of influence. The framework for this commitment is provided by legal requirements, but also by social expectations. Meeting both is a declared aim of our activities."

Spokeswoman of MANAGEMENT BOARD OF volkswagen leasing gmbh

Manuela Voigt

“At Volkswagen Leasing, we attach great importance to honest and compliant behavior. For example, we set high standards for compliance with human rights and environmental protection requirements and also demand this from our business partners and suppliers, e.g. the dealers of the Volkswagen Group. We do this out of conviction and because our customers expect it from us.”

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF volkswagen bank gmbh

Dr. Christian Löbke

“Doing business sustainably and acting responsibly. These are two key aspects that we take into account in our daily decisions. We want to live up to our corporate responsibility and make our contribution to a better future. The LkSG has also applied to Volkswagen Bank GmbH since 01.01.2024. We are proud that the protection of human rights and the environment has been part of our strategy for much longer and that we pursue it with conviction and commitment.”

The Whistleblower System

We actively investigate reports of potential human rights and environmental risks and violations in our own business operations or perpetrated by direct and indirect suppliers or other business partners.

Reports can be submitted at any time to the Central Investigation Office of Volkswagen AG. This also applies to any other hints or reports of other suspected instances of abuse or malpractice that require immediate action by the company. The Investigation Office informs the relevant departments, which then process the matter accordingly. This includes taking the necessary measures to minimize or end violations and/or risks if the initial suspicion is confirmed.

Further information on the procedural principles of the Volkswagen Group's complaints mechanism can be found here.

Policy Statement

Our understanding of the legal requirements under the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act and the specific way in which we deal with them is reaffirmed by our Board of Management in the Policy Statement of Volkswagen Financial Services AG. We will continuously review this and develop it further on the basis of the insights gained.

The policy statements for Volkswagen Bank GmbH and Volkswagen Leasing GmbH are currently being prepared.

The Whistleblower System

We actively investigate reports of potential human rights and environmental risks and violations in our own business operations or perpetrated by direct and indirect suppliers or other business partners.

Reports can be submitted at any time to the Central Investigation Office of Volkswagen AG. This also applies to any other hints or reports of other suspected instances of abuse or malpractice that require immediate action by the company. The Investigation Office informs the relevant departments, which then process the matter accordingly. This includes taking the necessary measures to minimize or end violations and/or risks if the initial suspicion is confirmed.

Further information on the procedural principles of the Volkswagen Group's complaints mechanism can be found here.

Report on the fulfillment of due diligence obligations (BAFA report)

Every year (starting in 2024), Volkswagen Financial Services AG submits its report on the fulfillment of its due diligence obligations for the previous financial year in accordance with the LkSG to the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA). The report is then published here on the human rights pages by April 30 of each year and made available for download for at least 7 years.