Modern Slavery and Ethical Code of Conduct
ETHICAL CODE OF CONDUCT
Fennel UK Ltd recognises that slavery and human trafficking remains a hidden blight on our global society. The aim of the Company is to identify our responsibility by alerting staff to the risks, however small, in our business and in the wider supply chain. Staff are expected and encouraged to report any concerns to management, where they are expected to act upon them.
We are committed to ensuring that there is no modern-day slavery or human trafficking in our supply chains or in any part of our business. This policy reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business relationships, working closely with all our suppliers to ensure that their complete supply chain meets the Modern Slavery Act 2015. We do this through trust and honesty with our suppliers, ensuring that all have implemented effective controls to ensure slavery and human trafficking is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains. We will ensure our supply chains meet the minimum expectations detailed below, whilst together continually striving to achieve improvements where possible.
Child Labour
- There shall be no recruitment of child labour.
- Children who are younger than 16years of age, or who are younger than the age for completing compulsory education shall not be employed.
- Children and young persons under the age of 18 shall not be employed at night or in hazardous conditions.
- The factory must maintain documentation for every worker, verifying the worker’s date of birth. Where official documents are not available, a factory must be seen to take all reasonable steps to verify age.
- Companies shall develop a policy to provide for the transition of any child found to be performing child labour to enable them to attend and remain in quality education until no longer a child.
Employment is freely chosen
- There shall be no forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour or any form of human slavery, servitude or human trafficking.
- ‘Human trafficking’ means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.
- Fennel UK Ltd strictly prohibits any exploitative labour practices or any associated criminal conduct.
- Workers are not required to lodge “deposits” or their identity papers with their employer, and are free to leave their employer after reasonable notice.
Hours of work
- Employees should not be required to work more than the maximum regular and overtime hours allowed by the law of the country of operation. No more than 48 hours per week are worked on a regular basis and no more than 12 hours per week overtime on a regular basis.
- Overtime must be voluntary and not used to replace regular contracted hours. Workers must be compensated at a premium rate according to national law.
- Holidays should be granted in accordance with local laws and employees shall be given, except in extraordinary business circumstances, at least one day off per week.
Wages and Benefits
- Wages and benefits paid for the standard working week must meet, as a minimum, national legal standards.
- Fennel UK Ltd will seek to work only with suppliers who ensure wages paid meet basic needs and provide some discretionary income.
- All workers shall be provided with written and understandable information about their employment conditions in respect to wages before they enter employment and about the particulars of their wages for the pay period concerned each time that they are paid including any deductions at a rate that is fair and reasonable by local standards and must be lawful and not discriminatory. Ensuring that the deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted without the expressed permission of the worker concerned. All disciplinary measures should be recorded.
No Harsh Inhumane Treatment is Allowed
- Every employee shall be treated with respect and dignity.
- Workers shall not be subject to any form of physical, sexual or mental harassment or verbal abuse.
Sub Contractors
• Suppliers and manufacturers for Fennel UK Ltd must ensure any sub-contractor is aware of and has given a written commitment to comply with this Code of Conduct.
Agency Labour
- If workers are sourced from a third party, suppliers must ensure that the third party is reputable and (if required) properly licensed.
- Suppliers must take reasonable steps to ensure that all workers supplied have the right to work in the country of operation, and are engaged on terms that comply at least the minimum legal requirements in that country..
- Agencies must be aware of, and given a written commitment to comply with this Code of Conduct.
Whistle Blowing
- We encourage the reporting of concerns and the protection of whistle blowers.
To ensure a high level of understanding of the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking in our supply chains and our business we ensure a level of communication and personal contact with next link in the supply chain and their understanding of, and compliance with, our expectations.
Fennel UK will not knowingly support or deal with any business involved in slavery or human trafficking. We have zero tolerance to slavery and human trafficking. We expect all those in our supply chain and contractors comply with our values.
This policy is in accordance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our Company’s slavery and human trafficking statement.