Supplier Code of Conduct
Introduction
As a British company with a proud history of 80 years of innovation and UK manufacturing, exporting to more than 60 countries currently, Colpac is conscious of its responsibility for maintaining exemplary business practices, not only with and by its staff, but also in relation to its local community and worldwide network of customers and suppliers.
Colpac’s Supplier Code of Conduct is derived from the conventions of the International Labour Organisation and the Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code, and establishes the minimum standards expected from all our business associates. By complying to international standards and requiring suppliers to follow our Code, we strive to enforce commitment to ethical trading throughout our supply chain and encourage our suppliers to share the responsibility for ensuring exemplary business practices.
Our principles:
1. Employment
• No forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour
• Employees are not required to lodge deposits or identity papers and are free to leave employment after reasonable notice
2. Freedom of association
• Employees, without distinction, have the right to join or form trade unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively
• Workers representatives are not discriminated against and have access to carry out their representative functions in the workplace
3. Working conditions
• A safe and hygienic working environment is provided
• Adequate steps are taken to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, associated with, or occurring in the course of work, by minimising, so far as is reasonably practicable, the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment
• All employees receive health & safety training
• Access to clean toilet facilities, drinking water and, if appropriate, sanitary facilities for food storage is provided
4. Child labour
• There shall be no recruitment of child labour
• Children or persons under 16 are not to be employed at any time
• Children and young persons under 18 are not to be employed at night or in hazardous conditions
5. Living wages
• Wages and benefits paid for a standard working week meet national legal standards
• All employees are to be provided with written and understandable information about their employment conditions in respect to wages before they enter employment and about the particulars of their wages for the pay period concerned each time that they are paid
• No deductions are made from wages as a disciplinary measure nor shall any deductions from wages not provided for by national law be permitted without the expressed permission of the worker concerned. All disciplinary measures should be recorded
6. Working hours
• Working hours comply with national laws and benchmark industry standards, whichever affords greater protection
• Overtime shall be voluntary, shall not be demanded on a regular basis and shall always be compensated at a premium rate
7. Discrimination
• There is no discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, nationality, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation
8. Regular employment
• To every extent possible work performed must be on the basis of recognised employment relationship established through national law and practice
• Obligations to employees under labour or social security laws and regulations arising from the regular employment relationship shall not be avoided through the use of labour-only contracting, subcontracting, or home-working arrangements, or through apprenticeship schemes where there is no real intent to impart skills or provide regular employment, nor shall any such obligations be avoided through the excessive use of fixed-term contracts of employment
9. Harsh or inhumane treatment
• Physical abuse or discipline, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal or other forms of intimidation is prohibited
10. Environmental impact
Where applicable, suppliers must:
• Comply with all necessary environmental requirements
• Identify and understand environmental impacts of the Company and work towards minimising any adverse effect on the environment
• Ensure ethical and environmentally-responsible practice throughout the Company
• Have actions and steps in place to increase commitment to recycling and re-use
• Reduce energy and material consumption wherever possible
11. Bribery and corruption
• Integrity and sound, responsible and fair business practices are to be upheld
• Any bribe of any sort, requested, agreed to or received to inappropriately influence Colpac employees is not permissible
• Compliance with anti-bribery laws, rules and regulations is essential
• Facilitation payments to Colpac employees are strictly prohibited