VENDOR CODE OF CONDUCT
The company is dedicated to conducting business with integrity, responsibility, and respect for human rights throughout its global supply chain. Every supplier, manufacturer, contractor, and business partner is expected to operate in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations while maintaining standards that support ethical labor practices, environmental stewardship, transparency, accountability, and sustainable business operations. The purpose of these requirements is to establish a consistent framework for responsible production and ensure that all facilities contributing to the company’s products maintain safe, fair, and respectful working environments.
Business partners are expected to uphold fundamental human rights and treat all workers with dignity and respect. Employment practices must be based on fairness, legality, and equal opportunity. Suppliers are responsible for creating workplaces where individuals can perform their duties without fear of exploitation, discrimination, harassment, or unsafe conditions. Compliance with internationally recognized labor standards is considered a minimum requirement for maintaining a commercial relationship.
The employment of children in violation of legal requirements is strictly prohibited. No individual may be hired below the minimum age established by local law or below the age required for completion of mandatory education, whichever standard offers greater protection. Young workers who are legally permitted to work must be protected from dangerous tasks, hazardous environments, and any conditions that could jeopardize their health, safety, education, or development. Appropriate safeguards must be implemented whenever younger employees are present in the workplace.
The use of forced, bonded, involuntary, trafficked, prison, or otherwise coerced labor is prohibited under all circumstances. Employment must be freely chosen, and workers must retain the freedom to enter and leave employment according to applicable laws and contractual agreements. Individuals must never be required to surrender personal identification documents, passports, travel records, or other personal property as a condition of employment. Workers must be informed of the terms of their employment in a language they understand before beginning work and should never be required to pay recruitment fees, hiring costs, or similar expenses to obtain employment. Where labor recruiters or third-party agencies are involved, suppliers are responsible for ensuring that recruitment practices remain ethical, transparent, and free from coercion or deception.
Equal treatment and non-discrimination are essential expectations throughout the employment relationship. Hiring, compensation, promotion, training opportunities, disciplinary actions, termination decisions, and all other employment-related practices must be conducted fairly and without regard to personal characteristics unrelated to job performance. Workers must be protected from unequal treatment based on factors such as race, nationality, religion, gender, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, political beliefs, sexual orientation, social background, union membership, or any other protected status recognized by applicable law. Additional protections should be provided to vulnerable groups, including migrant, temporary, seasonal, and contract workers.
Every employee must be treated with respect and professionalism. Suppliers must maintain workplaces free from intimidation, abuse, harassment, violence, threats, humiliation, or degrading treatment. Physical punishment, verbal abuse, sexual misconduct, psychological pressure, and financial penalties used as disciplinary measures are unacceptable. Managers and supervisors are expected to foster a culture of respect and accountability while addressing workplace concerns in a fair and constructive manner.
Health and safety are critical responsibilities for all suppliers. Work environments must be designed and maintained to minimize risks and prevent injuries, illnesses, and accidents. Employers are expected to provide adequate training, safety equipment, emergency preparedness procedures, sanitation facilities, and access to clean drinking water. Any housing provided to employees must be safe, secure, hygienic, and suitable for human occupancy. Facilities should regularly assess risks and implement measures that protect workers from occupational hazards.
Employment conditions must comply with all applicable labor laws and regulations. Workers should receive clear information regarding their job responsibilities, compensation, benefits, and workplace policies. Employment relationships must respect legal rights and social protections established by national and international labor standards.
Compensation practices must be transparent, accurate, and compliant with applicable wage laws. Employees should receive at least the legally required minimum wage or industry-standard compensation, whichever provides greater benefit. Wages must be paid on time, documented appropriately, and accompanied by all legally required benefits. Employers are encouraged to support compensation systems that allow workers to meet basic living expenses while providing opportunities for economic stability and personal well-being.
Working hours must remain within legal limits and should not place unreasonable burdens on employees. Regular schedules should be managed responsibly, and overtime should remain voluntary whenever possible. Workers must receive appropriate rest periods, meal breaks, and at least one full day of rest within each seven-day period. Suppliers are expected to actively manage production planning to reduce excessive overtime and maintain sustainable workloads.
Employees must have the freedom to communicate collectively and associate with organizations of their choosing without fear of retaliation or interference. Workers should be able to engage in lawful representation, dialogue, and collective bargaining activities where permitted by law. Employers are expected to maintain open communication channels and establish fair grievance mechanisms that allow concerns to be raised and addressed effectively.
Suppliers may not transfer production responsibilities to unauthorized subcontractors without prior approval. Any approved subcontracting arrangement must meet the same standards required throughout the primary supply chain. Suppliers are responsible for disclosing all facilities involved in the production, processing, handling, or transportation of goods and ensuring that subcontractors fully comply with applicable requirements.
Environmental responsibility is an important component of ethical business operations. Suppliers are expected to minimize the environmental impact of their activities through responsible management of energy consumption, water usage, emissions, waste generation, and chemical handling. Compliance with environmental laws is mandatory, and suppliers are encouraged to pursue continuous improvements that reduce resource consumption and promote sustainability. Environmental performance should be monitored, documented, and made available when requested.
The company maintains a strict commitment to preventing forced labor and human rights abuses throughout its supply chain. Ongoing monitoring programs, facility assessments, and independent audits are used to evaluate compliance and identify risks. Both announced and unannounced inspections may be conducted to verify working conditions and ensure adherence to established standards. Any indication of forced labor, human trafficking, or severe human rights violations is treated as a critical breach of policy and may result in the immediate termination of the business relationship. Products or materials linked to such violations will not be accepted, and corrective measures will not replace the company’s obligation to uphold zero tolerance for forced labor practices.
By working together under these principles, suppliers and business partners contribute to a supply chain built on respect for human rights, ethical employment practices, environmental responsibility, transparency, and continuous improvement. These expectations form the foundation of long-term partnerships and support the shared goal of producing goods responsibly while protecting the well-being of workers and communities around the world.