Introduction

This code of conduct is a binding document for all vendors who are contracted by MOOTS to produce or deliver products. It lays out the minimum standards we expect from each contracted vendor to hold up to. At all times, the vendor must comply with local and national legislation. In any case, the higher applicable standard that is more beneficial for the worker has to be chosen by the vendor. If MOOTS contracts a vendor, this code of conduct must be applied and/or undersigned to secure the topics below. MOOTS and its principals are free to supplement these requirements at any time.

Child Labor

MOOTS will not accept goods or services on which children being younger than 15 years or having reached the minimum age for completing compulsory education in accordance with local laws and ordinances within the country, whichever is higher, have worked on. Children below the age of 18 shall not work at night and under hazardous conditions and circumstances that are disadvantageous to the health, education and development of the child. The vendor has to ensure that the health, safety and morals of the young persons concerned are fully protected and that the young persons have received adequate specific instruction or vocational training in the relevant branch of activity.

Employment shall not be based on the premise of repaying debts owed by any member of their family. The vendor has systems in place to ensure robust age-verification mechanisms during the recruitment process. These mechanisms may not be in any way disregarding or disrespectful to the worker.

Forced Labor

The vendor must not engage, or through business partners, in any form of forced, bonded, indentured, trafficked or non-voluntary labor. The vendor may not hold deposits or identity papers as condition for employment. All applicable fees for the recruitment of employees are paid by the vendor and/or their business partner. Employees are free to terminate their employment at any given time after a handing in a reasonable notice within the frame of national legislation.

Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining

The vendor must allow all its employees without distinction to join or form trade unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively in a free and democratic way. They can draw up their own constitution and elect representatives in freedom without being subject to being held liable, being suspended or dissolved. Elected workers’ representatives are not discriminated against and have access to carry out their work and functions as representatives in the workplace. The vendor adapts an open attitude towards the activities of trade unions and their activities. In case national law prohibits freedom of association and collective bargaining, the vendor facilitates and does not hinder the development of parallel means for independent and free association and bargaining.

Working Hours

The vendor must maintain reasonable employee working hours. These working hours must be compliant with national law or, if applicable, collective agreement, whichever is lower. Where regular working hours are not limited by national law or collective agreements, the regular working hours are limited to 48 hours in a 7-day period, whichever is lower. Regular working hours are defined by contract. Within a 7-day period, employees are entitled to at least 24 hours of consecutive rest. Employees are entitled to a reasonable number of days off which have to be at least compliant with national law or collective agreements.

Overtime shall always be voluntary and not forced. Overtime is compensated at a premium rate or at least at the regular hourly compensation rate if national law does not mandate otherwise. Overtime may not be requested on a regular basis. The total working hours, including overtime, shall not exceed 60 hours per week. Only under exceptional circumstances, and if not prohibited by national law and allowed by freely negotiated collective agreements between workers’ organization and employer representatives total working hours are allowed to exceed. The vendor has to demonstrate that exceptional circumstances apply such as unexpected production peaks, accidents and/or emergencies.

Wages and Benefits

The vendor ensures that wages and benefits paid to its employees are at least consistent with the national laws or legislation governing minimum wages and benefits. Before entering employment, workers shall be provided with written and understandable information about their employment conditions in respect to wages. Wages are paid in a regular and stable manner by the vendor. In case a pay rate for production, quota or piece work is established, it has to be ensured that workers earn at least a wage which meets or exceed mandated minimum wage within regular working hours. Wage deductions as disciplinary measure shall not be permitted. Legally granted social benefits must not have negative impact on the pay.

Occupational Health and Safety

The vendor must provide a safe and hygienic working environment. To prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, associated with, or occurring in the course of work the vendor has systems in place to detect, avoid and to respond. Workers must have access to clean sanitary facilities and if appropriate sanitary facilities for food storage. Workers shall receive regular and recorded health and safety trainings. These shall be repeated for new or reassigned workers. The vendor provides systems to notify workers of emergencies. Safe exit routes when workers have to leave the building or shelter locations during emergencies must be in place. Manufacturing facilities must be fit for purpose and are well lit and ventilated, aisles must be clear and accessible, protective railings must be placed on stairs and cages on lifts. Electrical wiring must be checked on a regular basis to ensure that it is in good condition, free of lint and dust. Machinery should be properly maintained at all times. Hazardous materials should be properly stored and disposed of. Where required, employees are provided with Personal Protective Equipment free of charge. In case of incidents, the vendor maintains records of all incidents in the workplace and all other facilities that are provided or mandated. 

Discrimination, Violence and Harassment

All workers are treated with respect and dignity. The vendor ensures that it will not engage in or support discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement of its staff based on race, caste, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation or any other condition that could give rise to discrimination or any other status protected by law. The recruitment of its employees is solely made on the basis of the ability to do the job. 

The vendor shall not engage in or support the use of physical, psychological, sexual or verbal punishment and abuse of its employees. MOOTS will not accept goods which have been made under labour conditions which do not satisfy the generally acceptable standards of decency. These are forced labour, i.e. by convicts who have been forced to perform hard labour during their imprisonment, dangerous labour and labour which is disadvantageous to health. Physical abuse or discipline, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation shall be prohibited, companies should provide access to a confidential grievance mechanism for all workers 

Regular Employment

At all times, work must be performed on the basis of recognized and documented employment relationships established through national laws and practices. Any obligations to employees under labor or social security laws and regulations arising from regular employment relationships shall not be avoided through the use of labor 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 contract of employment. At any stage of the recruitment process, the worker does not pay any recruitment fees.

Unless previously agreed with the main client, there should be no sub-contracting. In case sub-contracting has been agreed, systems should be in place to manage sub-contracting and home working. At any time, only workers with a legal right to work shall be employed.

Hazardous materials and waste

MOOTS is committed to reducing the negative impact of our operations on the environment. Thus, we require our vendors to comply with all local environmental laws and legislations. The vendor confirms its compliance with RoHS and REACH standard to allow for products to be traded within the EEA. The vendor cannot partake in inappropriate disposal of waste which would result in the harmful effects of the biodiversity and ecosystems of the planet and must incorporate formal recycling for hazardous waste and general waste. The vendor should ensure the water used for production purposes or is located in close proximity to the production facilities does not become contaminated by leakages into the water source which could cause harmful damage to water life and to those who use the water in the area. 

Energy consumption

The vendor must ensure that energy is not unnecessary wasted. Vendor should track its energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in order to illustrate patterns and opportunities for energy reductions and ensure that greenhouse gas emissions from their production sites are within the limits of the local regulations.

Environment 

The vendor must meet the requirements of local and national laws related to environmental standards, must be able to demonstrate that they have the relevant valid permits including for use and disposal of resources e.g. water, waste etc, must be aware of their end client’s environmental standards/ code requirements, must have an environmental policy covering all environmental impact, must be aware of the significant environmental impact of their site and its processes, shall make continuous improvements in their environmental performance, shall have available for review any environmental certifications or any environmental management systems documentation, should have a nominated individual responsible for co-ordinating the site’s efforts to improve environmental performance. 

Legal requirements

The Vendor shall comply with all legal requirements to the conduct of their business and shall ensure that their contractors and vendors adhere to this code of conduct. 

Anti-corruption and bribery

The vendor must refrain from being involved in any type of corruption in a direct and indirect manner, including bribery, extorsion, and discounts.

Fraud 

The vendor must ensure there are no fraudulent practices throughout its operations, should refrain from engaging in business with other companies/vendors that engage in fraudulent activities of any kind.

Conflict of interest 

The vendor should ensure there is no conflict of interest when working with MOOTS and report any perceived conflict of interest in relation to MOOTS as soon as possible. The vendor also confirms that it treats information on products and services provided by MOOTS with utmost confidentiality.

Compliance

MOOTS expects and requires its vendors to comply with all the standards as specified in the Code of Conduct for Vendors. At all times MOOTS reserves the right to pay unannounced visits or appoint independent consultants to pay unannounced visits to the factories in which the Goods or parts of the Goods are produced to check whether these universal principles are met. In case the Vendor cannot meet one or more standards set by MOOTS at a time of signing the contract, it should report any incompliances through the Non-compliance Report Form. MOOTS will assess the incompliance or the breach and either propose a corrective action or decline/terminate the agreement with the vendor in question.

MOOTS is een handelsnaam van  Altina beheer B.V., ingeschreven in het handelsregister van de Kamer van Koophandel onder nummer 34267969