Even though Maersk doesn’t mention nationality based discrimination in their code of conduct, the company assures that it won’t be tolerated.

September 2007

Maersk says it won’t discriminate against employees based upon nationality. Charles O’Connor, vice president of Maersk Inc. in the USA made this clear at a conference with the ITF Maersk Network April 23th in Copenhagen.

The 55 trade unionists from six continents were happy overall with the fact that Maersk now acknowledges the right to association and collective bargaining in its business principles.

However, Hernik Berlau of the United Federation of Danish workers, 3F, asked the Maersk management why the business principles doesn’t mention discrimination on grounds of nationality or residency.

In their business principles, Maersk states that the company doesn’t tolerate any form of discrimination "pertaining to race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, language, religion, political or other opinion, cultural background, ethnicity or other distinguishing characteristics."

"Nationality is definitely intented to be included in the business principles. We don’t discriminate against our employees," US-head Charles O’Connor answered the Danish trade unionist.

Henrik Berlau is satisfied with the answer. "It is obvious that when everything is mentioned except one thing, it draws one’s attention, but I am glad that Maersk ‘s interpretation is the same as our's," Henrik Berlau says.