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Ethical Trading and Human Rights Policy

Policy Statement

FUEL10K recognises the responsibility that they share with their suppliers to operate ethically and to protect Human Rights. Promoting decent working conditions in our supply chains is part of our strategy to act in a social responsible manner.  In pursuit of our aims, we require that all our suppliers comply with our Ethical Trading Policy, which is based on Global Sourcing Principles, the Fundamental Conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and national and international laws.

 

We expect all our suppliers to have ethical processes and policies in place throughout their supply chain.  We will monitor supplier compliance with this policy through a range of tools to support the risk management, continuous improvement and capacity building of our suppliers, including the requirements for suppliers to provide reasonable information as evidence of compliance to with our Ethical Trading Policy. 

 

Coverage                    

To all direct suppliers to FUEL10K

 

Specific Supplier Requirements

It is expected that all suppliers to FUEL10K will strive to meet the standards outlined in this policy within a reasonable timeframe. Each supplier is responsible for ensuring that all their own  suppliers meet these standards. FUEL10K will monitor the progress of each supplier through SEDEX, SAQ’s and Risk Assessments. Where appropriate, FUEL10K will work in partnership with suppliers to develop management systems to implement the policy. Where serious instances of failure to comply with this policy are identified, immediate corrective action to address the issue will be required. A lack of willingness to instigate appropriate and timely action within a reasonable time period may result in the further, more formal action. FUEL10K aims to support ongoing improvements in working conditions and social accountability wherever this is practical. The below standards are based on the ETI Base Code, and therefore apply globally.

 

Policy Commitments

 

  1. Employment is freely chosen

 

1.1 There is no forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour.

1.2 Workers are not required to lodge "deposits" or their identity papers with their employer and are free to leave their employer after reasonable notice.

 

  1. Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected

 

2.1 Workers, without distinction, have the right to join or form trade unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively.

2.2 The employer adopts an open attitude towards the activities of trade unions and their organisational activities.

2.3 Workers representatives are not discriminated against and have access to carry out their representative functions in the workplace.

2.4 Where the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining is restricted under law, the employer facilitates, and does not hinder, the development of parallel means for independent and free association and bargaining.

 

  1. Working conditions are safe and hygienic

 

3.1 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.

3.2 Workers shall receive regular and recorded health and safety training, and such training shall be repeated for new or reassigned workers.

3.3 Access to clean toilet facilities and to potable water, and, if appropriate, sanitary facilities for food storage shall be provided.

3.4 Accommodation, where provided, shall be clean, safe, and meet the basic needs of the workers.

3.5 The company observing the code shall assign responsibility for health and safety to a senior management representative.

 

  1. Child labour shall not be used

 

4.1 There shall be no new recruitment of child labour.

4.2 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 or him to attend and remain in quality education until no longer a child; "child" and "child labour" being defined in the appendices.

4.3 Children and young persons under 18 shall not be employed at night or in hazardous conditions.

4.4 These policies and procedures shall conform to the provisions of the relevant ILO standards

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  1. Living wages are paid

 

5.1 Wages and benefits paid for a standard working week meet, at a minimum, national legal standards or industry benchmark standards, whichever is higher. In any event wages should always be enough to meet basic needs and to provide some discretionary income.

5.2 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.

5.3 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 expressed permission of the worker concerned. All disciplinary measures should be recorded.

 

  1. Working hours are not excessive

 

6.1 Working hours must comply with national laws, collective agreements, and the provisions of 6.2 to 6.6 below, whichever affords the greater protection for workers. Sub-clauses 6.2 to 6.6 are based on international labour standards.

6.2 Working hours, excluding overtime, shall be defined by contract, and shall not exceed 48 hours per week.*

* International standards recommend the progressive reduction of normal hours of work, when appropriate, to 40 hours per week, without any reduction in workers’ wages as hours are reduced.

6.3 All overtime shall be voluntary. Overtime shall be used responsibly, taking into account all the following: the extent, frequency and hours worked by individual workers and the workforce as a whole. It shall not be used to replace regular employment. Overtime shall always be compensated at a premium rate, which is recommended to be not less than 125% of the regular rate of pay.

6.4 The total hours worked in any 7 day period shall not exceed 60 hours, except where covered by clause 6.5 below.

6.5 Working hours may exceed 60 hours in any 7 day period only in exceptional circumstances where all of the following are met:

  • this is allowed by national law;
  • this is allowed by a collective agreement freely negotiated with a workers’ organisation representing a significant portion of the workforce,
  • appropriate safeguards are taken to protect the workers’ health and safety; and
  • the employer can demonstrate that exceptional circumstances apply such as unexpected production peaks, accidents or emergencies

6.6 Workers shall be provided with at least one day off in every 7 day period or, where allowed by national law, 2 days off in every 14 day period.


  1. No discrimination is practised

 

7.1 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.

 

  1. Regular employment is provided

 

8.1 To every extent possible work performed must be on the basis of recognised employment relationship established through national law and practice.

8.2 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.

 

  1. No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed

 

9.1 Physical abuse or discipline, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation shall be prohibited.

 

Operating principles

 

The following operating principles will help FUEL10K and its suppliers progress the shared responsibility of implementing the code.

 

FUEL10K will aim to:

 

  • Communicate its commitment to this policy to its employees and shareholders, as well as to all suppliers of goods and services.
  • Provide guidance and reasonable non-financial support to suppliers who genuinely seek to promote and implement these standards in their own business and in the relevant supply chains, within available resources.
  • Ensure that any personnel evaluating suppliers against this policy are effectively trained and are provided with an awareness of the issues and principles of ethical trading.
  • Adopt appropriate methods and systems for monitoring and verifying the achievement of the standards.

 

FUEL10K expects suppliers to:

 

  • Assign responsibility for implementing this policy in its entirety to a senior manager.
  • Fully co-operate with FUEL10K in any request for information.
  • Report progress at request (depending on risk, this may be via an Audit inspection)

 

3.3. Both parties will aim to:

 

  • Recognise official regulation and inspection of workplace standards, and the interests of legitimate trade unions and other representative organisations.
  • Seek arbitration in the case of unresolved disputes.

 

Glossary

 

Child - Unless otherwise defined by local legislation, any person less than 15-years of age.

 

Child labour  -  Any work carried out by a child as defined above.

 

Forced labour - Work or service undertaken by a person under duress or menace of penalty, in circumstances where the person has not offered him/herself voluntarily.

 

Standards - Defined requirements for compliance which may be adjusted to conform to the legal standards or local industry norms which would apply to a supplier.

 

Supplier - A person, firm, factory or organisation who/which forms a commercial link with FUEL10K to provide goods or services to it, or its shareholders. This includes wholesalers.