Our commitment
Arva Flour Mills has been milling flour on the same site in Arva, Ontario since 1819. We are a small, family-owned business, and the way we treat people, including our workers, our farm partners, our customers, and our neighbours, matters to us. We commit to respecting internationally recognised human rights in everything we do.
We commit to respecting human rights in accordance with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
What we mean by human rights
We support the human rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labour Organization’s core conventions, including the right to:
- Freely chosen work, with no forced or compulsory labour and no child labour.
- Freedom of association and collective bargaining.
- Non-discrimination in employment.
- Safe and healthy working conditions.
- Fair wages and decent hours of work.
- Privacy, dignity, and freedom from harassment.
Where this commitment applies
This commitment applies to Arva Flour Mills Inc., including its Directors, owners, employees, and contractors, and informs how we choose and work with our suppliers, farm partners, and other business relationships.
What we do about it
- We follow Ontario and Canadian employment, health-and-safety, and human-rights legislation as the legal minimum, and where our own standards are higher we apply those.
- We provide a confidential way for any worker, supplier, or community member to raise a concern through our internal Speak-Up Policy or public Grievance Policy, without fear of retaliation.
- We expect our farm partners and key suppliers to operate in line with applicable labour and human-rights laws, and we will work to address any concerns we become aware of.
- We do not retaliate against any person who raises a concern in good faith.
- Directors review this commitment, together with our grievance and worker-engagement records, each year at the Directors’ annual review.
Accountability
Responsibility for this commitment rests with the Directors. Day-to-day implementation rests with the General Manager, and this commitment is available to any worker, supplier, customer, or member of the public.