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"Committed to People"

Introduction

Within Elonex, we are committed to ensuring the safe and fair treatment of all employees around the world, who are involved with the manufacture of our products. In addition, we are committed to minimising any impact on the environment that occurs during the manufacturing process. To ensure this is achieved, it is our policy to source products from vendors and factories who share our commitment to improving worker welfare, and reducing environmental impact.

Customer expectations are growing, and becoming ever more demanding. Our customers now expect to buy quality goods that are made:

• In safe and healthy conditions.

• By adult workers who are properly paid.

• In factories where damage to the environment is minimised.

 

 

We all want to run successful, efficient and sustainable businesses. Elonex believes that good workplace standards, decent health and safety requirements, fair pay and conditions, and care for the environment are important elements in business success. We want to expand partnerships with factories, to improve the welfare of workers, environmental standards, and continuously develop factories to be proud of.

Elonex has determined a set of aspirational standards reflecting the way in which we would like the factories we buy from, to be managed. These standards are detailed in this Code of Conduct, and provide clear direction and guidance to our supply base, as to what we recognise as best practice. All of these standards are achievable within a reasonable time frame, and all exist within our current supply base. Elonex’ Standards cover the aspects of child labour; hours of work; wages; employee relations; health and safety; hygiene; accommodation; supply chain management; and environment. Elonex understands and recognises that it can help improve the quality of life of the people making its products, by working with factories to improve where required. However, we acknowledge that there are certain situations or practices that are totally unacceptable, and cannot be condoned under any circumstances. These are detailed as Elonex’ Critical Failure Points.

Elonex will never knowingly buy from factories, which fail any of the Elonex’ Critical Failure Points. Elonex Standards These standards have been determined to reflect current best practice on Ethical and Environmental issues within our supply chain. Achievement of these standards forms the basis for the grade awarded to each factory. Elonex wants to source from factories that meet, or are keen to improve their standards and practices, on labour, welfare, health and safety, and environmental management.

Child Labour

• All workers must meet the local legal minimum age, and/or a minimum age of 16.

• Factories should hold appropriate records on the ages of all workers.

• Young persons from 16 to 18 years should not work at night (between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.), or on tasks that are potentially hazardous to their health.

• The factory should develop and participate in policies and programmes which help the elimination of any exploitation of children in their industries.

 

 

Hours of Work

• Factories should hold appropriate records, showing the hours worked by each worker, both as part of their contractual agreement, and as overtime.

• Contractual hours should not exceed 45 hours per week.

• All overtime is voluntary and paid at an additional rate.

• Workers should be provided with at least one day off in every seven.

• Workers should be allocated breaks, the length and frequency of which is appropriate to the tasks undertaken.

 

 

Wages

• Wages must equal or exceed the regional minimum wage.

• Wages and benefits should be consistent with industry benchmarks and/or local/regional standards, and laws.

• Any deductions made to the basic wage must be clearly understood, and reasonable in the context of the total wage.

 

 

Employee Relations

• There is no unfair discrimination in hiring, or employment conditions on any grounds.

• Workers should have a written contract of employment. The terms of which must be clearly communicated to the worker in a language or method that is understood.

• All disciplinary rules must be written and clearly communicated to workers in a language and/or method that is understood.

• There should be a clear recognised process of worker representation, to ensure good flow of communication between workers and management.

• Workers should be allowed to negotiate collectively, in unions or groupings of their choice.

 

 

Supply Chain Management

• The factory management should understand the product’s supply chain, and be willing to divulge its details

• The factory management should ensure visits and assessments are made of all parts of the product’s supply chain where there is obvious potential for environmental or ethical problems.

• The factory management systematically measures standards within their supply chain and where necessary encourages improvements on key issues.

• Sub-contract cottage units or homeworkers should only be used where there are benefits for the sub- contractor/homeworker.

• Sub-contracted “factory” manufacturing sites should adhere to the Elonex’ Standards.

 

 

Health and Safety

• Factories should be safe, with risk of harm from hazardous activities, minimised through the provision of safety equipment, training and a safe factory infrastructure.

• There should be a Manager with responsibility for Health and Safety issues.

• Factories should be able to demonstrate active management and improvement of Health and Safety issues.

 

 

Environment

• Factories should have an Environment Policy signed by the Chief Executive.

• Factories should have an Environmental Action Plan against which progress is measured.

• Factories supplying timber products should have a “Chain of Custody” in place, which is, or can be certified, and they should understand forest certification and be prepared to deliver if Elonex requires.