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HOME ABOUT AYA SUSTAINABILITY OUR COMMITMENT UNGC COMPLIANCE
Commitment towards Sustainable and Inclusive Future
We take immense pride in being one of the signatories of the UN Global Compact (UNGC), the world's largest initiative designed to steer corporations towards practices fostering a sustainable and inclusive future. As active participants in the UNGC, we regularly provide updates on our progress concerning the implementation of the UNGC's Ten Principles and the activities we undertake in line with them.
Pledge from the Chief Executive Officer of AYA Bank PCL
As AYA Bank marks its 16-year journey of growth and service excellence, we are proud to reach our 14th year of commitment to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). Since adopting the UNGC principles, we are dedicated to continuously improving our efforts to minimize any adverse environmental impacts on the communities we serve. AYA Bank continues to strengthen its internal governance standards, enhance stakeholder trust, and contribute to sustainable development in the communities we serve. We recognize that accountability and transparency are essential to this commitment. Over the years, we have worked diligently to embed the Ten Principles into our corporate strategy, governance framework, and daily operations, ensuring that responsible and sustainable practices remain at the core of our business.
We are committed to:
- Supporting and respecting the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights and ensuring that we are not complicit in human rights abuses;
- Upholding freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, and eliminating all forms of forced and compulsory labour, child labour, and discrimination in respect of employment and occupation;
- Adopting a precautionary approach to environmental challenges, promoting environmental responsibility, and encouraging the development and use of sustainable practices;
- Working against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery, through strong governance, ethical conduct, and transparent business practices.
In line with UNGC requirements, we annually submit our Communication on Progress (COP), reporting transparently on our efforts to implement the Ten Principles and continuously improve our performance. We believe that sustained adherence to these principles will enable AYA Bank to create long-term value for our stakeholders while contributing positively to society and the environment.
Adherence to UNGC's Ten Principles by AYA Bank
Human Rights
AYA Bank supports and respects human rights by implementing the Code of Ethical Conduct, Human Right Policy and an Employee Handbook, providing clear guidelines to all employees and offering a standard communication framework for all stakeholders. Our Human Rights and Code of Ethical Conduct guidelines derive from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Ten Principles of the UNGC. Our core actions include establishing policy commitments, engaging with stakeholders, providing remediation mechanisms, and being transparent about progress.
Objective: Align with global standards and foster fairness in treatment and equal opportunity
Practices: AYA Bank emphasizes the importance of equality in the workplace and encourages freedom of expression and diversity. Our recruitment and selection policy underscores fair employment practices and prohibits discrimination based on gender, race, or other protected characteristics. As the Bank expands its retail network, its advocacy efforts extend nationwide. We promotes human right consideration by integrating it into our operations, enhancing financial inclusion, protecting consumer data, and ensuring fair treatment for them. The Bank also encourages human rights through community investment projects, such as funding infrastructure in rural areas, sponsorship for differently-abled persons, supporting microfinance and small business development for underserved groups.
Objective: Ensure fair business practices in our overall value chain and do not assist in any form of human rights violations.
Practices: AYA Bank engage with civil society organizations and ask for their feedback on our human rights due diligence, assessment processes and tools through which we are enhancing our human rights due diligence. The effective operational-level whistleblowing mechanism is in place that allows raising concerns, reporting and fixing wrongdoings or human rights abuses at all departments and branches. We provide ongoing awareness training and offer various channels for staffs and stakeholders to express concerns and provide feedback.
Labour Standards
AYA Bank is proud to be an "Employer of Choice" with over 6500 employees as of 31st March 2026. We recognize our human capital as the driving force behind our growth to over 260 branches within 16 years. We maintain a strong mix of diverse workforce across gender, ethnicity, age, professional background, and cultural perspectives.
Objective: Continue the good collaboration with the bank’s employees.
Practices: AYA Bank fully takes responsibility to create a conducive and rewarding work environment for our employees. The senior leadership team fosters active engagement with the workforce through town hall sessions and offer opportunities to address employee feedback directly. We are committed to respecting labor rights in all of its activities and to support our stakeholders in realizing their labor rights obligations. We encouraged our corporate business partners to make their commitments to respect human rights more visible and to perform human rights due diligence in their value chains.
Objective: Manage the risk of forced labour and compulsory labour
Practices: AYA Bank is the first bank in Myanmar to voluntarily undergo a human rights audit and implement recommendations from the ILO (International Labour Organization). As part of policy control, we implement the explicit, board-approved policies that prohibit the use of forced, bonded, or compulsory labor, requiring adherence from both staff and suppliers. We continuously review our policies and guidelines to ensure transparency and in compliance with the ILO’s core labour principles on forced labour and compulsory labour. We promote and advocate for human rights standards, upholding fundamental rights for all our stakeholders.
Objective: Safeguard the children’s right, ensure supply chain sustainability, mitigate legal and reputational risks.
Practices: Beyond ethical imperatives, AYA Bank believe removing children from supply chains improves long-term profitability by aligning with international standards. In fostering a skilled, productive workforce, enhancing corporate reputation, and building consumer trust, we have the Child Labor Principle in place as part of responsible business conduct. Our Human Rights Procedures ensure vendors follow "No Child Labor Standard".
Objective: Maintain a workplace free from bias and better use of talent and productivity
Practices: Our management team sets the tone with a resolute ambition and an active roadmap advocating for equality, diversity, and inclusion. We steadfastly uphold policies promoting non-discrimination and equal opportunities, along with unbiased talent acquisition and selection processes. We had taken steps a number of years ago to ensure inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated, and everyone's viewpoints are valued and respected. Our efforts to foster an internationally inclusive environment have earned us the EDGE Certification (The Certification for Workplace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) since 2019 and completed GEARS (Gender Equality Assessment, Results and Strategies), a regional-level diagnostic tool and assessment framework offered by BCGE since 2024. Through its ongoing commitment, AYA Bank publishes hiring mix, diversity ratio of its workforce in the Annual Report 2025.
Environment
AYA Bank places a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability, embedding environmentally responsible practices across its operations, lending, products, services, and community activities. In accordance with the bank’s business goals and policies and the UN Global Compact’s environmental principles, optimal utilization of only the necessary resources is part of the bank’s sustainable strategy.
Objective: Support proactive environmental approaches to minimize potential impacts
Practices: Environmental aspects are considered in our policies, client and supplier assessments and risk management process. This helps to ensure well informed decision-making and that our financings do not harm society or the environment. AYA Bank’s Environmental Policy outlines our commitment to a responsible steward of the environment and acknowledge that we have a responsibility to our customers, employees, investors, and the communities that we serve. As part of AYA Bank’s ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment, we hold annual tree planting campaign for the long-term solution to climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation. The activity, now in its fourth consecutive year, was led by senior leaders of the Bank, alongside senior executives and a dedicated team of 150 staff volunteers. Our leaders also engage in constructive dialogue on climate strategy organized by NGOs and INGOs
Objective: Improve energy efficiency through responsible banking practices.
Practices: AYA Bank regularly assesses and prioritizes the possibilities of energy-saving initiatives. During 2025, the bank installed solar panels on the roof of designated branches for the pilot project. We continue to replace office vehicles with electric cars in 2026. The Bank aims to help increase resilience to climate change where we can and support climate adaptation strategies of our commercial and retail clients. For businesses, we contribute significantly to financing the green transition, including granting loans for renewable energy production and for the promotion of the transition of manufacturing. For individuals, we grant loans for personal customers’ energy improvements, including installation of solar system at homes and purchases of sustainable vehicles.
Objective: Advance a greener, climate-resilient future by adopting sustainable technologies
Practices: AYA Bank opens up new growth opportunities and make efforts in aligning banking objectives and environmental objectives. We ensure ecological balance and protects the environment by adopting environmentally friendly technologies. We foster partnerships with fintech and green tech providers and awareness initiatives that promote innovation and the wider use of eco-friendly solutions across industries. We promote digital payments ecosystem by expanding mobile banking, internet banking and QR-based transactions. Furthermore, we use digital channels, such as mobile apps, websites, and social media to share knowledge, promote green products, and offer digital loan application and approval systems.
Anti-Corruption
Under the Myanmar Anti-Corruption Law 2013, AYA Bank has a stringent Anti-Corruption Policy, taking strict measures against corruption and ensuring transparency in all business activities. We aim to avoid any form of corruption and bribery.
Objective: Reduce the challenges faced by society, the customers and the bank regarding money laundering, data security and cyber crime
Practices: AYA Bank enforces strict anti-bribery, anti-corruption, and anti-money laundering (AML/CFT) guidelines. We work to identify and mitigate adverse impacts of financial transactions on the environment and surrounding communities. We are guided in the way we do business and interact with our clients by our Code of Conduct, Anti-Bribery and Corruption policy, Business Principles, Risk Control Framework and Sustainability policies. The Bank has also declared its commitment to zero tolerance for corruption and maintains a strong stance against all forms of corrupt practices.
Last Updated – May 2026