Accountability.
Compliance. Care.
Environmental · Social · Governance
Papaya Global operates in 180+ countries, processes $50B+ in payroll annually, and supports 2,000+ companies managing their international workforce. That reach comes with responsibility.
Three pillars. One commitment.
Our ESG commitments are grouped into three pillars, each with defined focus areas, measurable targets, and accountable owners.
Environmental
Reduce our carbon footprint. Manage energy, travel, and digital infrastructure responsibly. Carbon neutral by 2030.
Social
Protect and advance the rights, wellbeing, and development of our employees and the workers on our platform across 180+ countries.
Governance
Operate with integrity. Maintain transparent policies on ethics, data privacy, compliance, and board accountability.
A message from our CEO
Global employment is complex. We operate in 180+ countries, process $50B+ in payroll annually, and support more than 2,000 companies in managing their international workforce. That reach comes with responsibility.
This policy sets out how Papaya Global approaches ESG commitments — not as a compliance exercise, but as a reflection of how we do business.
We believe accountability cannot stop at the employment contract. It extends to the planet, to the people we serve, and to the integrity of how we operate.
“The same infrastructure that gives enterprises confidence in global payroll must also give them confidence that we are a responsible partner.”
Environmental responsibility
Our direct footprint is shaped by cloud infrastructure, office energy use, and business travel. We focus on what we can control, measure it accurately, and reduce it systematically.
Climate and carbon
- Measure full Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions annually using the GHG Protocol
- Set science-based reduction targets in line with a 1.5°C pathway
- Achieve carbon neutrality across Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030
- Offset residual emissions using Gold Standard or VCS-certified credits
- Publish an annual carbon disclosure reviewed by a third-party auditor
Energy
- Transition to 100% renewable energy in all directly leased offices by 2027
- Require cloud providers (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure) to disclose renewable sourcing
- Reduce per-employee energy consumption by 20% by 2028 (2024 baseline)
Business travel
- Enforce travel pre-approval for all non-critical international travel
- Default to virtual meetings for internal collaboration
- Offset 100% of flights booked through corporate travel accounts
Digital infrastructure
- Prioritise cloud regions with higher renewable energy intensity
- Conduct annual reviews of data retention policies
- Include sustainability criteria in procurement decisions
Waste and supply chain
- Zero single-use plastic in all Papaya-owned offices
- Circular economy approach to hardware: refurbish before replace
- Require top-tier suppliers to hold or work towards ISO 14001 by 2026
Social responsibility
Our social responsibility extends in two directions: to our own employees and to the workers on our platform. We do not treat people as a cost to optimise.
Diversity, equity and inclusion
- Publish annual data on gender and diversity representation across seniority levels
- Set and track inclusion targets at leadership level
- Conduct annual pay equity audit; remediate gaps within 90 days
- Run mandatory unconscious bias training for all hiring managers
Wellbeing and mental health
- Provide access to mental health support in every country of direct employment
- Enforce minimum paid leave above statutory requirements
- Publish a flexible working policy allowing remote, hybrid, and flexible hours
- Track and report employee satisfaction scores quarterly
Fair compensation
- Pay above-market salaries benchmarked annually against independent data
- Operate a transparent compensation framework with defined salary bands
- Never pay below living wage regardless of local statutory minimums
Workers on our platform
Papaya operates as EOR and AOR for workers employed through our platform. Those workers are our responsibility.
- Ensure all EOR workers receive compliant contracts in their local language
- Pay all workers on time, every time — 99.5% successful payment delivery
- Provide access to the Banco app for real-time payment visibility
- Operate a worker grievance mechanism in all 180+ countries
- Never engage in or facilitate forced labour, child labour, or ILO violations
Governance and integrity
We process payroll and payments in 180+ countries. Our clients trust us with sensitive financial and employee data. That trust is earned through consistent, verifiable integrity.
Ethics and anti-corruption
- Zero-tolerance policy on bribery, corruption, and facilitation payments
- Annual anti-bribery training for all employees, contractors, and third parties
- Due diligence on all new supplier and partner relationships
- Fully confidential whistleblowing channel with non-retaliation protection
Data privacy and security
- Full GDPR compliance across all markets of operation
- ISO 27001 certification across all critical systems
- Annual third-party penetration tests with published remediation summary
- 72-hour notification to regulators on confirmed data breach
Financial integrity
- Client funds in segregated, bankruptcy-protected accounts (J.P. Morgan, Citi)
- Annual financial statements with independent external audit
- Financial crime compliance: AML, KYC, and sanctions screening
Responsible AI
Papaya’s Embedded AI layer processes employment data and supports compliance decisions. We apply a human-first principle.
- Never use AI to make final employment decisions without human review
- Conduct bias audits on all AI models affecting individual workers
- Disclose to clients and workers where AI is used in processes affecting them
- Maintain a register of AI systems with defined oversight responsibilities
Our ESG commitments at a glance
| Pillar | Commitment | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental | Carbon neutral (Scope 1 & 2) | Achieved by 2030 |
| Environmental | 100% renewable energy in offices | Achieved by 2027 |
| Environmental | Annual GHG disclosure | Published every year from 2027 |
| Gender pay gap audit | Annually; gaps remediated within 90 days | |
| Pay equity benchmark | Published annually | |
| Worker grievance mechanism | Operational in all 180+ countries | |
| Governance | ISO 27001 | Maintained and renewed annually |
| Governance | Annual ESG Report | Published within 180 days of year-end |
| Governance | Board ESG oversight | Named Board member accountable from 2026 |
| Governance | AI bias audits | All production AI models audited annually |
Measurement and accountability
A policy without measurement is aspiration, not accountability. We publish an Annual ESG Report covering performance against each commitment.
Policy ownership
Owned by the Chief People Officer, overseen by the General Counsel. Reviewed annually. Material changes require Board approval.
180+ countries.
One accountable partner.
Papaya Global’s compliance team manages EOR, payroll, and payments across 180+ countries — with named local experts, ISO 27001 security, and a commitment to responsible business built into everything we do.