Introduction
Social and environmental responsibility are important values of our business and so Patch expects the highest ethical standards from our suppliers to ensure all products or services are produced under humane working conditions and with respect for human rights, the environment and business ethics.
This code of conduct outlines our core ethical principles and we aim to build long-term partnerships with our suppliers based upon these principles and through fair and transparent means. We expect our suppliers to not only obey the law, but also respect the wellbeing of their employees, community and environment.
Patch code of conduct
A. Labour
Child Labour
There shall be no recruitment of child labour (being any person under the age of 15, or under the age for completing compulsory education, or under the minimum age for employment in the country, whichever is greatest). Supplier should have in place an appropriate mechanism to verify the age of workers. Children and young persons under the age of 18 shall not be employed at night, do overtime or work in hazardous conditions. The wage rate for student workers, interns, and apprentices shall be at least the same wage rate as other workers performing equal or similar tasks.
The policies and procedures shall conform to the relevant International Labour Organisation (ILO) policies.
Employment Practices
There shall be no forced, bonded, exploitative or involuntary prison labour. Workers must be free to leave their employer after reasonable notice. There shall be no unreasonable restrictions on workers’ freedom of movement on supplier’s premises, in addition to unreasonable restrictions on entering or exiting supplier’s facilities. Suppliers must not hold, destroy or confiscate identity documents of workers. Suppliers must not require workers to pay any agent’s recruitment fees or other fees related to their employment.
All workers must be provided with a written employment agreement that contains a description of terms and conditions of employment.
Wages and benefits paid for a standard working week must meet, as a minimum, national legal requirements or industry benchmark standards, whichever is higher. In respect of any overtime, workers must be compensated at rates higher than regular hourly rates. Suppliers shall make no deductions from staff wages as disciplinary measures. Suppliers must provide workers with a clear wage statement for each pay period promptly.
Working Hours
Suppliers must commit to working towards compliance with ILO guidelines and national laws, whichever offers greatest protection. Overtime must be voluntary and all employees should receive at least one rest day every seven. A work week should not exceed 60 hours per week including overtime, except in emergency or unusual situations.
No Discrimination
There must be no discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, nationality, religion, age, disability, pregnancy, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union or political membership. Supplier’s workplace should be free of harassment and unlawful discrimination. Supplier shall make reasonable accommodation for religious practices. Supplier shall not subject staff to medical tests, or physical exams that could be used in a discriminatory way.
Discipline
Employee abuse in physical, sexual or verbal form of intimidation is not acceptable and prohibited, nor shall there be any threat of any such treatment. Disciplinary policies and procedures shall be clearly defined and communicated to workers.
Supplier must respect the right of workers to form and join trade unions of their own choosing, to bargain collectively, and to engage in peaceful strikes.
B. Health and Safety
A safe, clean and hygienic environment should be provided, taking into account the specific hazards of the industry. Adequate steps should be taken to prevent accidents and injury to health at work. Workers should receive regular and recorded health and safety training. All workers should have access to clean toilet facilities and drinking water. Where provided accommodation should be clean, safe and meet the basic needs of workers.
Occupational Safety
Supplier must continually identify and assess health and safety hazards (chemical, electrical and other energy sources, fire, vehicles, and fall hazards, etc.) and mitigate such risks and provide ongoing occupational health and safety training. Supplier must make reasonable adjustments for pregnant and nursing mothers.
Preparation for Emergencies
Supplier must identify and assess potential emergency situations (that cause harm to life, the environment and property) and mitigate the impacts by way of emergency plans. Emergency drills must be executed at least annually or as required by local law, whichever is more stringent.
Injuries and accidents
Written policies and practices must be in place and made available to minimise on-the-job employee accidents and injuries and policies and accident reports must be made available for inspection. Supplier should have in place systems to take corrective action after any accidents and injuries, and to facilitate affected workers return to work.
C. Environment
Suppliers should ensure they are treating the local environment with respect, and meet all the relevant local and national regulations. In particular Suppliers should:
- have in place all required environmental permits;
- minimise or eliminate emissions and discharges of pollutants and waste (solids, gases and liquids);
- minimise the use of natural resources and prioritise recycling or re use where possible;
- comply with all applicable laws, regarding the prohibition or restriction of specific substances in products and manufacturing; and
- establish a company-wide greenhouse gas reduction goal to minimise their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and track progress against such.
D. Business Ethics
All suppliers must comply with all applicable ethical trading laws and regulations in the countries where materials or services are sourced, produced and delivered.
Bribery and corruption
Patch prohibits any and all forms of bribery, corruption, extortion and embezzlement. Suppliers must not pay or accept bribes to obtain undue or improper advantage or to retain or obtain business. Supplier shall have company-wide policies in place to ensure compliance with anti-bribery legislation.
Business Records
Supplier shall perform all business dealings transparently and record all dealings on its books and records. Falsification of records is prohibited. Third party intellectual property rights are to be respected and not infringed.
E. Data Privacy
Suppliers must protect the reasonable privacy expectations of personal information of suppliers, customers, consumers, and employees and comply with applicable privacy and information security laws in respect thereof.
To the extent that supplier processes personal data on behalf of Patch, supplier will: (a) comply with the provisions and obligations imposed on a processor by the EU General Data Protection Regulation (as such is enshrined into UK law) (“GDPR”), including the stipulations set out in Article 28(3)(a)-(h) which form a part of, and are incorporated into, any agreement between supplier and Patch as if they were set out in full, and the reference to "documented instructions" in Article 28(3)(a) will include the provisions of such agreement; and (b) not disclose any personal data to any data subject or to a third party other than at the written request of Patch.
If supplier receives any complaint, notice or communication which relates to the processing of personal data by it in connection with the agreement between Supplier and Patch, or to either party's compliance with the applicable data protection law, or if any personal data processed in connection with such agreement is subject to a personal data breach (as defined in the GDPR), it will immediately notify Patch and provide Patch with reasonable co-operation and assistance in relation to any such complaint, notice, communication or personal data breach.
