In March 2000, Count Anton Wolfgang von Faber-Castell and the IG Metall trade union ratified an agreement they had worked out jointly and that is followed in all countries. The Faber-Castell Social Charter is one of the first of its kind in the world. The company voluntarily commits to assuring, in all its subsidiaries, the terms of employment and working conditions recommended by the International Labour Organization (ILO):

No forced labour | Equal opportunities and treatment of employees | No child labour | Freedom of association and right to collective bargaining | Payment of adequate wages | Safe and healthy working conditions | No excessive working hours | Agreed terms of employment

An independent committee checks at regular intervals that the terms are being complied with.

Social responsibility has been an integral part of Faber-Castell’s policy for generations. Over 150 years ago, the company set standards among European manufacturers. In the mid-19th century, Lothar von Faber was well aware of the social problems arising from the industrialization. Therefore, he had built apartments and schools for his workers, introduced a savings plan, was co-founder of one of the first workplace kindergardens and set up institutions that only later became standard, such as a company health insurance organization – the oldest in Bavaria.

Dedicated, motivated and highly trained employees are vital to the success of the business. So Faber-Castell offers its global workforce of 8,000 people employment and training programmes, family-friendly human resources policy and employee representative committees.