Code of Conduct
WE-AR4 is committed to deliver its mission of creating planet-responsible products within socially adequate and responsible working conditions for all workers employed along its value chain. We acknowledge the complexity around globalized supply chains, particularly when products and materials are sourced from third-party companies. We understand our responsibility to ensure our suppliers endorse and implement standards to safeguard the human capital involved in the production of our products.
At WE-AR4, we want to make human rights in our supply chain a priority alongside our environmental mission. We pledge to work with our key partners to ensure our network supports the rights of the people making the products we sell and respects the environment in which they are produced and consumed.
Our Code of Conduct, established on ten principles based on the International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions and the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI) Base Code, aims to communicate the standards we require our brand partners along the supply chain to uphold with a key focus on human rights, positive labor practices.
Furthermore, our business partners are expected to adopt environmentally responsible practices across their activities relating to our production. Compliance with relevant environmental laws, rules and regulations is required as per the principles outlined in our Code of Conduct.
The correct operations of the provided principles are monitored through surveys regularly carried out throughout our supply chain. Additionally, we require our partners to monitor and report on their compliance to our standards.
Code of Conduct Principles
We expect our partners to comply with the principles below, unless it contradicts the standards outlined in the relevant legal regulations.
1. We do not support and employ forced labour
All partners involved in our supply chain are forbidden to use forced, bonded or prison workforce – as outlined by the ILO Conventions. This includes modern slavery and human trafficking.
2. We respect the freedom of workers to form and join trade unions
We expect our partners to protect the rights of the workers to engage in open dialogue regarding work matters, by supporting their freedom of association and respecting their right to unionize.
3. We ensure safe and hygienic working conditions for our workers
Safe and hygienic facilities must be guaranteed to workers for suppliers to work with us. The conditions to be met include structurally sound buildings, access to safe drinking water, sanitary food storage, sufficient windows and ventilation, fire extinguishers and escapes.
4. We do not support and employ child labour
Our partners are forbidden from employing children under the minimum working age in compliance with local laws.
5. We ensure our workers are paid a national minimum wage.
Workers along our supply chain are expected to receive by our partners and their suppliers a fair remuneration, in compliance with national employment laws.
6. We do not expect nor allow workers to work over their contracted hours
Working hours must comply with local legal regulations and must not exceed contracted hours. Where not stated by law, the working hours must not exceed a total of 48 hours per week. Additionally, any overtime must be voluntary and compensated.
7. We condemn any form of discrimination
Hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination, or retirement must not be affected by any discrimination based on the following: race, caste, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.
8. We expect our partners to provide the workers with a recognized and stable employment
Workers are to be employed through a regular and stable contract stipulated on relevant local and national laws. Clandestine and illegal employment is not permitted.
9. We forbid any form of abuse and inhumane treatment
We do not allow our suppliers to inflict any form of physical, verbal, sexual or financial abuse on the staff.
10. At a minimum, we require our partners to operate within environmental law
Environmental laws, rules and regulations must be respected by our suppliers with respect to water, energy, hazardous chemicals, air quality and waste management.
Updated: April 2022
