The Six Commitments of Freedom Business

This article is Part 2 of a three part series on the basics of Freedom Business. It is based primarily on the Freedom Business Code of Excellence, available for download here. Read Part 1.
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The work of Freedom Business is considered by many of our Members to be more than just a business, but a calling.

While most businesses seek to hire the best and brightest, Freedom Businesses seek first to create employment opportunities for those who are most often unskilled and have experienced trauma, upholding a commitment to the vulnerable in society and a belief in the inherent high worth of every human being.

Because of these beliefs, our Members work to create workplaces that are safe and trauma-informed. And while safe employment is a vital component of freedom, they believe true freedom requires more. It requires a belief in one’s own worth that grows with professional, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development, most effectively achieved in a community that offers love, hope, and healing. This is why our Members go further than simply offering a job, but endeavor to create this type of supportive and formative community within their places of work. Thus, they uphold the belief that business, when intentional, can serve as an optimal vehicle for healing and transformation. These intentions require incredible sacrifice and investment. This document describes the high standards and commitments undertaken in pursuit of this calling.

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Pictured above: Freedom Business Code of Excellence 2-Page Summary, available for download here.
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The Six Commitments of Freedom Business

The Code of Excellence defines the business practices that sustain holistic freedom and distinguish the work of Freedom Business. It contains six Commitments upheld by Freedom Businesses, defines common terms used within our industry, and provides a framework for implementation.

Commitment 1

Mission to End Human Trafficking
Creating jobs for survivors of Human Trafficking and those At Risk is a central, stated aim of the organization. It has developed structures, processes, programs, and resources to accomplish plans of action to carry out this mission.

Commitment 2

Governance, Transparency & Accountability
The organization has a governance structure that oversees its strategic direction toward achieving its mission, identification and management of risks and opportunities, and its financial and social performance. There is transparency in how it conducts trade, in its supply chain and in management of the organization. The organization welcomes and seeks accountability from its Stakeholders. It fosters meaningful participation of Personnel to facilitate fulfillment of its mission. It commits to ongoing learning and development as an organization to raise the standard of practice in the Freedom Business Movement together with other Freedom Businesses.

Commitment 3

Good Working Conditions
The organization commits to protecting the safety, human rights, health as well as the mental, physical, social and spiritual well‐being of its Personnel. It conforms, at a minimum, with all relevant laws on health and safety for its Personnel, working hours and working conditions.

Commitment 4

Fair Pay
The organization commits to paying an equitable and fair wage to all its Personnel which meets the legal minimum wage and strives toward the Local Living Wage. It provides social security and benefits, not counting the provision of any extra programs and services toward minimum wage requirements.

Commitment 5

Healing-Centered Workplace
The organization has a trauma-informed, healing-centered workplace demonstrated by fully integrating knowledge about trauma and recovery practices into its policies, procedures, and practices, seeking to actively reduce the possibility of re-traumatization of Beneficiary Personnel.

Commitment 6

Concern for External Stakeholders
The organization commits to business practices that evidence concern for external Stakeholders including suppliers, business partners, donors, investors, fellow Freedom Businesses, and the environment, always seeking to minimize negative impacts created by its operations and increase mutual benefit.

The Freedom Business Code of Excellence is informed by Members of Freedom Business Alliance and is based on common Freedom Business values, the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, human rights and other internationally recognized principles. It is also informed by other aligned, internationally-recognized codes, standards and commitments such as those from the World Fair Trade Organization, World Economic Forum, Chab Dai, and the Business As Mission (BAM) Manifesto.

It is our hope the Code of Excellence will articulate the incredible, impactful work being done within our Freedom Businesses around the world, and serve as a rallying point, propelling continued excellence and improvement among current and prospective industry leaders as they go about the work of growing the number of`employment opportunities to survivors.

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