Code of Conduct

Principles

Swix Sport AS’s suppliers are to supply goods and services that are produced in compliance with the code of conduct. Moreover, the suppliers are to communicate the code of conduct to their sub- suppliers, and to monitor implementation. A supplier must be able to document compliance with the code of conduct at Swix Sport AS’s request. Such documentation may take the form of self-declaration, follow-up meetings, and/or inspections of the working conditions at production sites. The supplier will be obliged to name and provide contact information for any sub-supplier that Swix Sport AS wishes to inspect. In the event of a breach of the code of conduct, Swix Sport AS and the supplier will jointly prepare a plan for remedying the breach. Remediation must take place within a reasonable period of time. The contract will only be terminated if the supplier remains unwilling to remedy the breach following repeated enquiries.

Requirement relating to own practise

When new suppliers are selected, emphasis will be given to social and environmental standards. Neither Swix Sport AS nor any of its employees shall ever offer or accept illegal or unlawful monetary gifts or other forms of remuneration in order to secure business-related or private benefit, or benefit for customers, agents or suppliers. Swix Sport AS and Swix Sport AS’s suppliers shall avoid partners that operate in countries subject to international boycott by the United Nations and/or Norwegian Authorities.

Requirement relating to working and environmental conditions

This code of conduct is based on internationally acknowledged UN and ILO conventions, and sets out a minimum standard. The employment legislation applicable to the place of production must be respected. Where national laws and regulations cover a topic that is also dealt with in this code of conduct, the higher standard shall apply.

1. Freely Chosen Employment (ILO Conventions Nos. 29 and 105)

1.1 There shall be no forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour

1.2 Workers shall not be required to lodge “deposits” or identity papers with their employer and shall be free to leave their employer after reasonable notice. 

2. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining (ILO Conventions Nos. 87, 98, 135 and 154)

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

2.2 Workers representatives shall not be discriminated and shall have access to carry out their representative functions in the workplace.

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

3. No Child Labour (UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ILO Conventions Nos. 138, 182 and 79, and ILO Recommendation No. 146)

3.1 Children and young persons under the age of 18 shall not be engaged in labour that is hazardous to their health or safety, including night work.

3.2 Children under the age of 15 (14 or 16 in certain countries) shall not be engaged in labour that is detrimental to their education.

3.3 New recruitment of child labour in infringing of the above mentioned conventions is unacceptable. If child labour, as described above, is already in existence, sustained efforts shall be made to redress the situation as quickly as possible. However, the children concerned shall be given the possibility of earning a livelihood, as well as acquiring an education until they are no longer of compulsory school age.

4. No Discrimination (ILO Conventions Nos. 100 and 111 and the UN Convention on Discrimination Against Women)

4.1 There shall be no discrimination at the work place based on ethnic background, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.

4.2 Measures shall be established to protect workers from sexually intrusive, threatening, insulting or exploitative behaviour, and from discrimination or termination of employment on unjustifiable grounds, e.g. marriage, pregnancy, parenthood or HIV status.

5. No Harsh or Inhumane Treatment

5.1 Physical abuse or punishment, or threats of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal abuse, as well as other forms of intimidation, shall be prohibited.

6. Safe and Hygienic Working Conditions (ILO Convention No. 155 and ILO Recommendation No. 164 6.1 The working environment shall be safe and hygienic, 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.

6.2 Workers shall receive regular and documented health and safety training, and such training shall be repeated for new workers.

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

6.4 Accommodation, where provided, shall be clean, safe and adequately ventilated, and shall have access to clean toilet facilities and potable water.

7. Adequate Wages (ILO Convention No. 131)

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

7.2 All workers shall be provided with a written and comprehensible contract outlining their wage conditions and method of payments before entering employment.

7.3 Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted. 

8. No Excessive Working Hours (ILO Convention No. 1 and 14)

8.1 Working hours shall comply with national laws and benchmark industry standards, whichever affords greater protection. It is recommended that working hours do not exceed 48 hours per week (8 hours per day).

8.2 Workers shall be provided with at least one day off for every 7 day period.

8.3 Overtime shall be limited. Recommended maximum overtime is 12 hours per week.

8.4 Workers shall always receive overtime pay, minimum in accordance with current legislation.

9. Providing Regular Employment

9.1 Obligations to employees under international conventions and social security laws, and regulations arising from the regular employment relationship, shall not be avoided through the use of short term contracting (such as contract labour, casual labour or day labour), sub-contractors or other labour relationships.

9.2 All workers are entitled to a contract of employment that shall be written in a language they understand.

9.3 The duration and content of apprenticeship programmes shall be clearly defined.

CONDITIONS OUTSIDE THE WORKPLACE

10. Consideration for Marginalized Populations

10.1. Production and extraction of raw materials for production shall not contribute to the destruction of the resources and income base for marginalized populations, such as in claiming large land areas or other natural resources on which these populations are dependent.

11. Protection of the Environment

11.1. Environmental measures shall be taken into consideration throughout the production and distribution chain ranging from the production of raw material to the consumer sale. Local, regional and global environmental aspects shall be considered. The local environment at the production site shall not be exploited or degraded by pollution.

11.2 National and international environmental legislation and regulations shall be respected. 11.3 Relevant discharge permits shall be obtained where required.

11.4 Hazardous chemicals and other substances shall be carefully managed.

12. Management systems of suppliers
The management system is key to the implementation of the code of conduct. Swix Sport AS emphasises the importance of suppliers having systems that support such implementation. Swix Sport AS’s expectations in this regard are summed up in the following measures: 

• The supplier should make a centrally placed employee responsible for the implementation of the code of conduct in the supplier’s business.
• The supplier must make the code of conduct known in all relevant parts of its organisation.

• The supplier must obtain Swix Sport AS’s consent prior to outsourcing production or parts of production to a sub-supplier/contractor, if this has not been agreed in advance.

• The supplier must be able to give an account of where goods ordered by Swix Sport AS are produced.

13. Animal welfare

13.1 Mulesing. Mulesing is a practise that occurs in some wool production of wool in Australia and New Zeeland. This kind of treatment shall not occur in Swix Sport AS’s supply chain with regards to the production of Swix Sport AS’s wool products.

13.2 Down. Down used in Swix Sport AS’s products shall be taken only from birds killed for food purposes. 

13.3 Leather products. Leather products are only to be made from utility animals as pigs, sheep and cattle, where the animals was slaughtered for the purpose of meat productions.