Basic understanding
The companies of the KOCO Group (KOCO) assume responsibility for society, their fellow human beings and the environment within the scope of their scope of action and possibilities. In doing so, we want to make our contribution to social and economic development in the regions and countries in which we operate. Furthermore, we want to ensure that the KOCO suppliers act in a comparable responsible manner.
We require our suppliers to act in accordance with the relevant legal regulations. We are guided by ethical values and principles, in particular righteousness and integrity, as well as respect for human dignity, as enshrined in the principles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human [1]Rights, and the core labour standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO), [2] as well as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. [3]
This document compiles our basic requirements towards our suppliers and the KOCO companies will take care to make these requirements binding.
Compliance with legislation
SUPPLIER must comply with current laws and other legal requirements in the countries in which they operate. In cases where local laws and regulations are less restrictive, their actions shall be guided by the principles of this requirements document. Where there is a direct conflict between mandatory local law and the principles contained in this Code of Conduct, the local laws shall take precedence. Nevertheless, the supplier shall endeavour to comply with the content of this document.
Integrity and compliance
SUPPLIER must implement suitable compliance measures so that the following areas are covered appropriately:
Corruption
SUPPLIER must not tolerate corruption, bribery or blackmail; they impede fair competitive conditions. Gifts made with the intention of influencing business decisions, or which could give the appearance of doing so or to obtain some other undue advantage must neither be promised, offered, granted, requested nor accepted in SUPPLIER’s business relationships. Nor do we allow these to be promised to SUPPLIER. Especially strict standards must be applied when dealing with people for whom particular rules apply under criminal and liability law (e.g. public officials).
Fair competition
SUPPLIER must operate in compliance with national and international competition and anti-trust legislation and do not participate in price agreements, sharing markets or collusion in respect of customers, markets and bids.
Prevention of money laundering
Money laundering is the term used for bringing money obtained illegally or from illegally acquired assets into the legal financial and economic system. SUPPLIER must comply with their legal obligations to prevent money laundering and do not participate in transactions that serve to disguise or integrate criminal or illegally acquired assets.
Protection of information and intellectual property
SUPPLIER must protect confidential information and respect intellectual property; transfers of technology and know-how must be made in a way that protects intellectual property rights, customer information, business secrets and information that is not in the public domain. SUPPLIER must observe the current laws to protect business secrets and treat their business partners’ confidential information accordingly.
Data protection
SUPPLIER must process, store and protect personal data in compliance with statutory regulations. Personal data is therefore treated confidentially and only collected for legal, previously defined purposes in a transparent manner. SUPPLIER shall only process personal data if it is protected against loss, modification and unauthorised use or disclosure using appropriate technical and organisational measures.
Export controls
SUPPLIER must undertake to comply with legal standards relevant to export controls – including but not limited to approval requirements, export bans and support bans – in the course of shipping and exporting their goods.
Avoidance of conflicts of interest
We avoid internal and external conflicts of interest which could illegitimately influence business relationships. Where this is not successful, we disclose these conflicts.
Health and safety
SUPPLIER must protect their employees’ health by taking suitable measures in relation to health and safety at work (e.g. the implementation of a company health and occupational safety management system) that provide appropriate cover in the following areas:
- compliance with current laws and guidance set out in international standards relating to health and safety at work;
- suitable workplace design, safety regulations and provision of suitable personal protective equipment;
- implementation of preventive checks, emergency measures, an accident reporting system, and further suitable measures for continuous improvement;
- provision of access to adequate quantities of drinking water and access to clean sanitary facilities for employees.
SUPPLIER must ensure that their employees have received adequate instruction.
Remuneration and hours of work
Remuneration shall be based on current laws and, if applicable, current binding collective agreements and is supplemented by the relevant national legislation on minimum wages. Employees must be given clear, detailed and regular information on the composition of their remuneration.
SUPPLIER must comply with current laws and (international) working standards in respect of the maximum permissible working hours and ensure that
- working time, including overtime does not exceed the relevant legally permissible maximum limits;
- the hours worked per week, including overtime, do not exceed 60 hours per week, even in exceptional circumstances and even if no such stipulations exist;
- employees have at least one full day per calendar week free.
Observance of human rights
SUPPLIER must pay attention to and support compliance with internationally recognised human rights and
- respect the personal dignity, privacy and personal rights of each individual;
- protect and uphold the right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression;
- do not tolerate unacceptable treatment of employees such as physical and psychological hardship, sexual and personal harassment or discrimination.
Prohibition of child labour
SUPPLIER must not tolerate any child labour. SUPPLIER must not employ any employees who cannot prove that they are at least 15 years old and requires proof of age to be submitted. For countries which fall within the exception for developing countries according to ILO Convention No. 138, the minimum age can be reduced to 14 years. SUPPLIER must not hire employees for dangerous work who, according to ILO Convention No. 182, cannot prove that they are at least 18 years old.
Prohibition of forced labour
Forced labour, modern slavery or comparable acts that involve the deprivation of liberty are forbidden. All work must be voluntary, and it must be possible to end the employment relationship.
Freedom of association and collective bargaining
SUPPLIER respects the right of employees to freedom of association, freedom of assembly and to engage in collective bargaining and pay negotiations, providing this is legally permissible and possible in the relevant country in which we are operating. If this is not permissible, SUPPLIER looks for appropriate compromises for their employees.
Promotion of diversity, equal opportunities
SUPPLIER encourages equal opportunities and does not tolerate discrimination. SUPPLIER treats all people equally regardless of gender, age, skin colour, ethnic origin, sexual identity and orientation, disability, religious affiliation, worldview or other personal attributes.
Environment, energy and climate protection
SUPPLIER must act in compliance with current legislation and is guided by international standards in order to minimise negative impacts on the environment and continuously improve their activities in respect of environment and climate protection. All employees are made aware of environmental issues and the necessary training is offered. SUPPLIER has to implement appropriate environmental protection measures (e.g. the implementation of a company environmental management system) that cover the following topics appropriately:
- setting objectives, defining and implementing measures and ensuring the continuous improvement of these;
- environmental aspects such as the reduction of CO2 emissions, increasing energy efficiency, using renewable forms of energy, safeguarding the quality of water and reducing water consumption, safeguarding air quality, encouraging resource efficiency, reducing waste and disposing of waste in the proper way and responsibly handling substances that are dangerous to human beings and the environment.
Dealing with conflict minerals
SUPPLIER must exercise the necessary care to take measures to avoid using conflict minerals in our products in order to prevent human rights violations, corruption and financing armed groups or similar via this route.
Supply chain
We expect SUPPLIER to comply with the principles of the KOCO Code of Conduct or to apply comparable codes of conduct. Furthermore, we expect SUPPLIER to implement these sustainability requirements in their own supply chains.
We reserve the right to systematically apply the KOCO Code of Conduct with our suppliers and to carry out checks as warranted. This may take the form of questionnaires, assessments or audits.
Should this cause doubts as to whether the KOCO Code of Conduct is being followed, SUPPLIER is requested to take suitable measures to counter this and to notify its contact in our company of the course of action. If required, the cooperation arrangement will be ended.
Execution and implementation
SUPPLIER makes suitable and reasonable efforts to continuously implement, document and fulfil the requirements of this document.
Communication
SUPPLIER shall communicate openly in dialogue with employees, customers, suppliers and other interest and stakeholder groups regarding the requirements of this document and its implementation.
Information on infringements
SUPPLIER shall offer its employees and business partners access to a protected mechanism that will allow them to confidentially report possible violations of the principles of this Code of Conduct.
References
| [1] | Die Vereinten Nationen (UNO), Allgemeine Erklärung der Menschenrechte, Resolution 217 A (III) der Generalversammlung vom 10. Dezember 1948 Übersetzung: Deutscher Übersetzungsdienst, Vereinte Nationen, New York, New York, 1948. |
| [2] | Internationale Arbeitsorganisation, „ILO Kernarbeitsnormen,“ [Online]. Available: https://www.ilo.org/berlin/arbeits-und-standards/kernarbeitsnormen/lang–de/index.htm. [Zugriff am 24 01 2022]. |
| [3] | Geschäftsstelle Deutsches Global Compact Netzwerk (DGCN), „Leitprinzipien für Wirtschaft und Menschenrechte, Umsetzung des Rahmens der Vereinten Nationen “Schutz, Achtung und Abhilfe”,“ 06 2014. [Online]. Available: https://www.bmwi.de/Redaktion/DE/Downloads/M-O/oecd-leitprinzipien-fuer-wirtschaft-und-menschenrechte.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=6. [Zugriff am 24 01 2022]. |