Compliance
Integrity - Doing the right thing
The success of the Volkswagen Group, of which Škoda form part of - is underpinned by honesty and integrity on the part of all of our employees. By acting in accordance with national and international laws and regulations, internal policies, guidelines and voluntary commitments, we always repay the considerable trust shown in the Škoda brand by our customers, business partners and stakeholders on a daily basis. An ethos of integrity, irreproachable conduct and fair dealings with each other are not merely something we take for granted – these values are deeply rooted in our brand identity. Upholding and further strengthening our system of values is one of the main duties of our company.
Compliance
For the Volkswagen Group, compliance is adherence to legal requirements, internal corporate policies, ethical principles, and self-imposed values for the protection of the company and its brands. In the long term, a company can only be successful if it acts with integrity, complies with statutory provisions worldwide, and stands by its voluntary undertakings and ethical principles, even when this is the harder choice. We remain committed to this principle and compliance must be second nature to all Volkswagen Group employees.
The section further explores the following compliance topics:
- The Code of Conduct for Employees
- The Code of Conduct for Business Partners
- The Whistleblower System
Code of Conduct for Employees
Volkswagen Group Australia's Code of Conduct is the key instrument for strengthening employee awareness of correct behaviour, providing support, and guidance, and finding the right contact persons for consultation and advice. The focus is on the responsibility of each individual employee to comply with the rules of ethical conduct.
Code of Conduct for Business Partners
The Code of Conduct for Business Partners embeds our expectations of our business partners conduct with respect to key environmental, social and compliance standards in our contractual agreements. The requirements are based, among other things, on the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the relevant International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. The Code of Conduct is, however, not just based on international standards, but also objectives, rules and policies of the Volkswagen Group.
Modern Slavery Reporting Requirements
As Volkswagen Group Australia (including Škoda Australia) is a key supplier of vehicle and parts, through our parent entity Volkswagen AG, we have prepared a short overview on Volkswagen Group Australia’s policies on modern slavery and the systems in place to place to address modern slavery risks. We encourage you to review the content below and contact our Procurement Department should you require any further assistance: procurement@volkswagen.com.au.
Our Whistleblower System
Complying with statutory regulations and internal rules, and the principles laid down in our Code of Conduct and Code of Conduct for Business Partners, has top priority at Škoda Australia. The success of our company is based on Integrity & Compliance. To meet these standards, it is important to learn of potential employee or supplier misconduct and to put a stop to it. Therefore, we entrusted the Central Investigation Office to operate an independent, impartial and confidential Whistleblower System on our behalf.
A key pillar of our Whistleblower System is the principle of procedural fairness. It also guarantees the greatest possible protection for whistleblowers, persons implicated and employees contributing to the investigation of reported misconduct.
This also includes the option of anonymous reporting and communication. As part of our investigation, we will not perform any steps that may identify anonymous whistleblowers. Retaliation against whistleblowers and any persons who contribute to investigations at Škoda Australia will not be tolerated. Persons implicated are presumed innocent until the violation is proven. Investigations will be conducted with the utmost confidentiality. The information will be processed in a fair, fast and protected process.
How do we process your report?
Our qualified and experienced colleagues at the Central Investigation Office examine every report for potential misconduct by an employee thoroughly and follow it up systematically. First, you will get a confirmation of receipt. The Central Investigation Office will then assess your report. This includes gathering facts particularly from the whistleblower. Only if this initial evaluation shows grounds for suspicion of a violation, an investigation by a dedicated Investigating Unit will commence. Afterwards, the results of the investigation will be assessed by the Central Investigation Office and appropriate measures will be recommended. Information about the status* and the outcome of the procedure will be given to you without undue delay.
Potential violations of the Code of Conduct for Business Partners by suppliers, including serious risks and violations of human rights and environment by direct and indirect suppliers, can also be reported to the Central Investigation Office - as well as reports requiring otherwise immediate action. The Investigation Office will inform the responsible departments, who will process the issue accordingly. This particularly includes taking the necessary measures to minimise or end violations and/or risks.
Further information on the procedural principles of the Volkswagen Group Complaints Procedure can be viewed here.
*The processing time varies depending on the subject of the procedure.
What kind of report do you want to submit?
A complaint about products or services to our customer service
For complaints or feedback about Škoda vehicles and services by our Business Partners (e.g. dealerships, service centres), please contact our dedicated Customer Care:
- Email: hello@myskoda.com.au
- Phone: 1800 607 540
Please note the Whistleblower System cannot process customer complaints.
A report of potential misconduct to our Whistleblower System
The Whistleblower System offers various channels for reporting potential misconduct by Škoda Australia employees, violations of the Code of Conduct for Business Partners or serious risks and violations of human rights and environment in our Supply Chain.
Contact methods
The Investigation Office of Škoda Australia can be reached via email (in any language): io@volkswagen.de. For customer complaints, please contact the channels listed under "A complaint about products or services to our customer service".
Central Investigation Office
Postal address:
Volkswagen AG, Central Investigation Office
Mailbox 1717
Berliner Ring 2
38436 Wolfsburg, Germany
In person: Please make an appointment in advance by writing an email to io@volkswagen.de.
Škoda Australia has appointed external lawyers to act as Ombudspersons. They advise on the Whistleblower System or ensure that reports from whistleblowers are forwarded anonymously to the Central Investigation Office if desired.
If you want to get in contact with the Ombudsperson, you can find their contact details here: https://www.ombudsmen-of-volkswagen.com/.
You have the option of using a web-based communication platform SpeakUp to contact the Central Investigation Office in more than 65 languages. This system is confidential and technically secured and allows you to submit reports anonymously.
You can find detailed instructions on how to make reports online, by app or by phone here.
You can leave us a voice message by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
After entering the phone number (specific to the country you are in – click here to download the list of numbers), you will be prompted to enter the organisation code 122203. Then, you can submit your report as a voice recording. Only a written transcript will be received by the Central Investigation Office. Dial back in to listen to the reply or further questions by our team.
You can also download the Speak Up App “SpeakUp - Listen for a change” by People Intouch (personal devices only) to access the secure reporting system via the App Store or Google Play. Through this app, you can submit your report in writing or leave a voice message (also anonymously). You will need the organisation code 122203.
Do you have further questions or do you need a local contact?
Questions or suggestions for improvement concerning the Whistleblower System can also be addressed to the Central Investigation Office.
Furthermore, our local Compliance Officer can also be contacted in all matters of the Whistleblower System via compliance@volkswagen.com.au.