 |
 |
| |
|
| |
Within Woolworths, we are
committed to ensuring the safe
and fair treatment of all employees
around the world who are involved
with the manufacture of our
products. In addition, we are
committed to minimising any
impact on the environment that
occurs during the manufacturing
process. To ensure this is achieved,
it is our policy to source products
from vendors and factories who
share our commitment to improving
worker welfare, and reducing
environmental impact. |
| |
|
| |
Customer expectations are
growing, and becoming ever more
demanding. Our customers now
expect to buy quality goods
that are made: |
| |
|
| |
| ·
|
In safe and healthy
conditions. |
| ·
|
By adult workers who
are properly paid. |
| ·
|
In factories where damage
to the environment is
minimised. |
|
| |
|
| |
We all want to run successful,
efficient businesses. Woolworths
believes that good workplace
standards, decent health and
safety requirements, fair pay
and conditions, and care for
the environment are important
elements in business success.
We want to expand partnerships
with factories, to improve the
welfare of workers, environmental
standards, and continuously
develop factories to be proud
of. |
| |
|
| |
Woolworths has determined
a set of aspirational standards
reflecting the way in which
we would like the factories
we buy from to be managed. These
standards are detailed in this
Code of Conduct, and provide
clear direction and guidance
to our supply base as to what
we recognise as best practice.
All of these standards are achievable
within a reasonable time frame,
and all exist within our current
supply base. Woolworths’
Standards cover the aspects
of child labour; hours of work;
wages; employee relations; health
and safety; hygiene; accommodation;
supply chain management; and
environment. |
| |
|
| |
Woolworths understands and
recognises that it can help
improve the quality of life
of the people making its products,
by working with factories to
improve where required. However,
we acknowledge that there are
certain situations or practices
that are totally unacceptable,
and cannot be condoned under
any circumstances. These are
detailed as Woolworths’
Critical Failure Points.
|
| |
|
| |
Woolworths will never knowingly
buy from factories which fail
any of the Woolworths’
Critical Failure Points. |
| |
|
| |
|
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
Woolworths will NOT
source from factories
that demonstrate one or
more of the following
ten critical failure
points: |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| 1 |
An adequate number of safe, unblocked fire escape routes are NOT accessible to workers from each floor or area of the factory and accommodation if provided. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| 2 |
Accommodation, if provided, is NOT clearly segregated from the factory / production area. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| 3 |
The factory employs children below the local legal minimum age, and / or the age of 15 (or 14 where allowed by ILO Conventions). |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| 4 |
The factory uses forced, bonded or involuntary labour. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| 5 |
Workers are forced to lodge “unreasonable” deposits or their identity papers with their employers, so they are not free to leave after reasonable notice. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| 6 |
Workers are subjected to physical abuse, the threat of physical abuse, or intimidating verbal abuse. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| 7 |
The factory actively hides the true records so the auditor is unable to assess the critical failure points during the audit. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| 8 |
Workers are not being paid the minimum legal wage. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| 9 |
The supplier/factory knowingly and continually contravenes local or national environmental legislation without being able to demonstrate a plan of action to improve. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| 10 |
The factory/supplier management does NOT demonstrate a willingness to improve on any significant areas of concern identified during the audit. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| |
These standards have
been determined to reflect
current best practice
on Ethical and Environmental
issues within our supply
chain. Achievement of
these standards forms
the basis for the grade
awarded to each factory. |
|
| |
| |
Woolworths wants to
source from factories
that meet, or are keen
to improve their standards
and practices, on labour,
welfare, health and safety,
and environmental management. |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Child Labour |
| |
| ·
|
All workers must meet
the local legal minimum
age, and / or a minimum
age of 14. |
| ·
|
Factories should hold
appropriate records on
the ages of all workers. |
| ·
|
Young persons up to
the age of 18 should not
work at night (between
the hours of 10pm and
6am), or on tasks that
are potentially hazardous
to their health. |
| ·
|
The factory should develop
and participate in policies
and programmes which help
the elimination of any
exploitation of children
in their industries. |
|
| |
|
| |
Hours of Work |
| |
| ·
|
Factories should hold
appropriate records, showing
the hours worked by each
worker, both as part of
their contractual agreement,
and as overtime. |
| ·
|
Contractual hours do
not exceed 48 hours per
week. |
| ·
|
All overtime is voluntary
and paid at an additional
rate. |
| ·
|
Workers should be provided
with at least one day
off in every seven. |
| ·
|
Workers should be allocated
breaks, the length and
frequency of which is
appropriate to the tasks
undertaken. |
|
| |
|
| |
Wages |
| |
| ·
|
Wages and benefits should
be consistent with industry
benchmarks and/or local/regional
standards. |
| ·
|
Any deductions made
to the basic wage must
be clearly understood,
and reasonable in the
context of the total wage. |
|
| |
|
| |
Employee Relations |
| |
| ·
|
There is no unfair discrimination
in hiring, or employment
conditions on any grounds. |
| ·
|
Workers should have
a written contract of
employment. The terms
of which must be clearly
communicated to the worker
in a language or method
that is understood. |
| ·
|
All disciplinary rules
must be written and clearly
communicated to workers
in a language and/or method
that is understood. |
| ·
|
There should be a clear
recognised process of
worker representation
to ensure good flow of
communication between
workers and management. |
| ·
|
Workers should be allowed
to negotiate collectively,
in unions or groupings
of their choice. |
|
| |
|
| |
Hygiene |
| |
| ·
|
The factory should provide
a clean and hygienic place
of work and rest, consistent
with local standards and
the nature of the industry. |
| ·
|
Workers should have
access to acceptable drinking
water at all times. |
|
| |
|
| |
Accommodation |
| |
| ·
|
Adequate provision should
be made for prevention
and fighting of fire. |
| ·
|
Accommodation should
be comfortable and provide
for an individual’s
privacy. |
| ·
|
Accommodation should
be clean and hygienic.
|
| ·
|
Recreational facilities
should be provided within
or accessible to the living
area. |
| ·
|
The factory should provide
parents with childcare
facilities or arrangements.
(Where applicable/appropriate) |
| ·
|
Toilets and bathing
facilities should be clean
and hygienic. |
| ·
|
Where food preparation
facilities are provided,
they should be clean and
hygienic. |
|
| |
|
| |
Supply Chain Management |
| |
| ·
|
The factory management
should understand the
product’s supply
chain, and be willing
to divulge its details. |
| ·
|
The factory management
should ensure visits and
assessments are made of
all parts of the product’s
supply chain where there
is obvious potential for
environmental or ethical
problems. |
| ·
|
The factory management
systematically measures
standards within their
supply chain and where
necessary encourages improvements
on key issues. |
| ·
|
Sub-contract cottage
units or homeworkers should
only be used where there
are benefits for the sub-contractor/homeworker. |
| ·
|
Sub-contracted “factory”
manufacturing sites should
adhere to the Woolworths’
Standards. |
|
| |
|
| |
Health and Safety |
| |
| ·
|
Factories should be
safe, with risk of harm
from hazardous activities,
minimised through the
provision of safety equipment,
training and a safe factory
infrastructure. |
| ·
|
There should be a Manager
with responsibility for
Health and Safety issues. |
| ·
|
Factories should be
able to demonstrate active
management and improvement
of Health and Safety issues. |
|
| |
|
| |
Environment |
| |
| ·
|
Factories should have
an Environment Policy
signed by the Chief Executive. |
| ·
|
Factories should have
an Environmental Action
Plan against which progress
is measured. |
| ·
|
Factories supplying
timber products should
have a “Chain of
Custody” in place,
which is, or can be certified,
and they should understand
forest certification and
be prepared to deliver
if Woolworths requires. |
| ·
|
Factories supplying
Toiletry and Cosmetic
products should be able
to substantiate any claims
on Animal Testing. |
|
| |
|
| |
 Download
Ethical and Environmental Code
of Conduct in PDF format
(66Kb) |
