a) are produced and delivered under conditions that do not involve the abuse or exploitation of any persons;
b) have the least negative impact on the environment. Such considerations will form part of the evaluation and selection criteria for all goods and services purchased by Brocks Compass. In addition, Brocks Compass will seek alternative sources where the conduct of suppliers demonstrably violates the basic rights of Brocks Compass’s intended beneficiaries, and there is no willingness to address the situation within a reasonable time period, or where companies in the supply chain are involved in the manufacture or sale of arms in ways which are unacceptable to Brocks Compass.
The purpose of the policy is to:
a) promote good labour and environmental standards in the supply chains of Brocks Compass;
a) to protect Brocks Compass’s reputation.
Suppliers adopting this Code of Conduct should commit to continuous improvement towards compliance with the labour and environmental standards specified, both in their own companies and those of their suppliers.
The labour standards in this code are based on the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
*There is no forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour. *Workers are not required to lodge `deposits’ or their identity papers with the employer and are free to leave their employer after reasonable notice.
*A safe and hygienic working environment shall be provided, bearing in mind the prevailing knowledge of the industry and of any specific hazards. Adequate steps shall be 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. *Workers shall receive regular and recorded health and safety training, and such training shall be repeated for new or reassigned workers. *Access to clean toilet facilities and potable water, and, if appropriate, sanitary facilities for food storage shall be provided. *Accommodation, where provided, shall be clean, safe, and meet the basic needs of the workers. *The company observing the standards shall assign responsibility for health and safety to a senior management representative.
*There shall be no new recruitment of child labour. *Companies shall develop or participate in and contribute to policies and programmes, which provide for the transition of any child found to be performing child labour to enable her/him to attend and remain in quality education until no longer a child. *Children and young people under 18 years of age shall not be employed at night or in hazardous conditions. *These policies and procedures shall conform to the provisions of the relevant International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards.
*Wages and benefits paid for a standard working week meet, at a minimum, national legal standards or industry benchmarks, whichever is higher. In any event wages should always be high enough to meet basic needs and to provide some discretionary income. *All workers shall 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. *Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted nor shall any deductions from wages not provided for by national law be permitted without the express and informed permission of the worker concerned. All disciplinary measures should be recorded.
*Working hours comply with national laws and benchmark industry standards, whichever affords greater protection. *In any event, workers shall not on a regular basis be required to work in excess of 48 hours per week and shall be provided with at least one day off for every 7 day period on average. Overtime shall be voluntary, shall not exceed 12 hours per week, shall not be demanded on a regular basis and shall always be compensated at a premium rate.
*There is no discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.
*To every extent possible work performed must be on the basis of a 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, sub-contracting 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.
*Physical abuse or discipline, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation shall be prohibited.
Suppliers should as a minimum comply with all statutory and other legal requirements relating to the environmental impacts of their business. Detailed performance standards are a matter for suppliers, but should address at least the following:
*Waste is minimised and items recycled whenever this is practicable. Effective controls of waste in respect of ground, air, and water pollution are adopted. In the case of hazardous materials, emergency response plans are in place.
*Undue and unnecessary use of materials is avoided, and recycled materials used whenever appropriate.
*Processes and activities are monitored and modified as necessary to ensure conservation of scarce resources, including water, flora and fauna and productive land in certain situations.
*All production and delivery processes, including the use of heating, ventilation, lighting, IT systems and transportation, are based on the need to maximise efficient energy use and to minimise harmful emissions.
The conduct of the supplier should not violate the basic rights of Brocks Compass’s intended beneficiaries.
The implementation of the Code of Conduct for Suppliers will be a shared responsibility between Brocks Compass and its suppliers, informed by a number of operating principles, which will be reviewed from time to time.
Brocks Compass can accept neither uncontrolled cost increases nor drops in quality. It accepts appropriate internal costs but will work with suppliers to achieve required ethical standards as far as possible at no increase in cost or decrease in quality.
It is our policy to conduct all of our business in an honest and ethical manner. We take a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption and are committed to acting professionally, fairly and with integrity in all our dealings wherever we operate. We are also committed to implementing and enforcing effective systems to counter bribery.
This policy applies to all individuals working at all levels and grades, including senior managers, directors, employees (whether permanent, fixed-term or temporary), consultants, contractors, and any other person providing services to us.
A bribe is a financial or other advantage offered or given:
- to anyone to persuade them to or reward them for performing their duties improperly or;
- to any public official with the intention of influencing the official in the performance of his duties.
This policy does not prohibit giving and receiving promotional gifts of low value and normal and appropriate hospitality. However, in certain circumstances gifts and hospitality may amount to bribery and all employees must comply strictly with Brocks Compass’s ethical policy in respect of gifts and hospitality. We will not provide gifts or hospitality with the intention of persuading anyone to act improperly or to influence a public official in the performance of his duties.
We do not make, and will not accept, facilitation payments or “kickbacks” of any kind. Facilitation payments are typically small, unofficial payments made to secure or expedite a routine government action by a government official. Kickbacks are typically payments made in return for a business favour or advantage. All employees must avoid any activity that might lead to, or suggest, that a facilitation payment or kickback will be made or accepted by us.
We do not make contributions of any kind to political parties. No charitable donations will be made for the purpose of gaining any commercial advantage.
6.1. We will keep financial records and have appropriate internal controls in place which will evidence the business reason for making any payments to third parties.
6.2. All expense claims relating to hospitality, gifts or expenses incurred to third parties must be submitted in accordance with our expenses policy and specifically record the reason for the expenditure.
6.3. All accounts, invoices, memoranda and other documents and records relating to dealings with third parties, such as clients, suppliers and business contacts, must be prepared and maintained with strict accuracy and completeness. No accounts must be kept “offbook” to facilitate or conceal improper payments.
Employees will be encouraged to raise concerns about any issue or suspicion of malpractice at the earliest possible stage. No employee will suffer any detriment as a result of raising genuine concerns about bribery, even if they turn out to be mistaken.