Employment and
the Workplace
- Equal Employment
Opportunity/Nondiscrimination
We believe that all terms and conditions of employment should
be based on an individual's ability to do the job and not on
the basis of personal characteristics or beliefs. We provide
employees with a working environment free of discrimination,
harassment, intimidation or coercion relating directly or indirectly
to race, religion, sexual orientation, political opinion or
disability.
- Forced Labour
We do not use any prison, slave, indentured, or forced labor
in the manufacture of any of our products.
- Child Labour
We do not utilize child labor in the production of any product.
We do not employ any person under the age of 15 (or 14 where
local law allows), or the age at which compulsory schooling
has ended, whichever is greater.
- Hours of Labour
We maintain reasonable employee work hours based on the limits
on regular and overtime hours allowed by local law, or where
local law does not limit the hours of work, the regular work
week. Overtime, when necessary, is fully compensated according
to local law, or at a rate at least equal to the regular hourly
compensation rate if there is no legally prescribed premium
rate. Employees are permitted reasonable days off (at least
one day off in every seven-day period) and leave privileges.
- Coercion and Harassment
We acknowledge the value of our staff and treat each employee
with dignity and respect. We do not use cruel and unusual disciplinary
practices such as threats of violence or other forms of physical,
sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse.
- Compensation
We fairly compensate our employees by complying with all applicable
laws, including minimum wage laws, or the prevailing local industry
wage, whichever is higher.
- Health and Safety
We maintain a safe, clean and healthy environment in compliance
with all applicable laws and regulations. We provide adequate
medical facilities, clean restrooms, reasonable access to potable
water, well lit and ventilated workstations, and protection
from hazardous materials or conditions. The same standards of
health and safety are applied in any housing we provide for
our employees.
Concern for the Environment
We believe it is our duty
to protect the environment and we do this by complying with all
applicable environmental laws and regulations.
Ethical Business Practices
- Sensitive Transactions
It is our policy to prohibit employees from entering into sensitive
transactions -- business dealings generally considered to be
either illegal, immoral, unethical or to reflect adversely on
the integrity of the Company. These transactions usually come
in the form of bribes, kickbacks, gifts of significant value
or payoffs made to favorably influence some decision affecting
a company's business or for personal gain of an individual.
- Commercial Bribery
We prohibit employees from receiving, directly or indirectly,
anything of value in return for using or agreeing to use his
or her position for the benefit of that other person. Similarly,
commercial bribes, kickbacks, gratuities and other payoffs and
benefits paid to any customer are prohibited. However, this
does not include expenditures of reasonable amount for meals
and entertainment of customers if they are otherwise lawful,
and should be included on expense reports and approved under
standard Company procedures.
- Accounting Controls,
Procedures and Records
We accurately keep books and records of all transactions and
the dispositions of our assets as required by law, as well as
maintain a system of internal accounting controls to ensure
the reliability and adequacy of our books and records. We ensure
only transactions with proper management approval are accounted
for in our books and records.
- Confidential or
Proprietary Information
We take extra care to keep our customers' trust and confidence
in us. Thus, we prohibit employees from disclosing confidential
or proprietary information outside the Company that could be
harmful to our clients, or to the Company itself. Such information
may only be shared with other employees on a need-to-know basis.
- Fraud and Similar
Irregularities
We strictly prohibit any fraudulent activity that might injure
our customers and suppliers, as well as the Company. We follow
certain procedures concerning the recognition, reporting and
investigation of any such activity.
Monitoring and Compliance
We adopt a third-party
monitoring program to confirm the Company's compliance with this
Code of Conduct. Monitoring activities may include announced and
unannounced on-site factory inspection, review of books and records
relating to employment matters, and private interviews with employees.
We designate one or more of our officers to
inspect and certify that the company's Code of Conduct is being
observed. Records of this certification shall be accessible
to our employees, agents, or third parties upon request.
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