Our commitment to Ethical Sourcing
Our mission is to make jaw dropping fashion lifestyle products that lasts – this means that we design, build and sell some of the highest value products in the world, with the best store and online experience, in a sustainable way.
In fulfilment of this mission, we expect our Business Partners ie contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and others – to operate sustainably and to conduct themselves with the utmost fairness, honesty and responsibility in all aspects of their business.
We use our Workplace Standards as a tool to assist us in selecting and retaining business partners who follow business practices consistent with our policies and values. As a set of guiding principles, the Workplace Standards also help identify potential problems so that we can work with our business partners to address issues of concern as they arise. Business partners will develop and implement action plans for continuous improvement in factory working conditions. Progress against these plans will be monitored by the business partners themselves, our internal monitoring team and eventually external independent monitors. Specifically, we expect our business partners to operate workplaces where the following standards and practices are implemented:
GENERAL PRINCIPLE WORK PLACE STANDARDS
Business partners must comply fully with all legal requirements relevant to the conduct of their businesses and must adopt and follow practices which safeguard human rights, workers’ employment rights, safety and the environment.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Kingsley Heath is committed to respecting human rights and will refrain from any activity, or entering into relations with any entity, which supports, solicits or encourages others to abuse human rights. We expect our business partners to do the same, and where there is any perceived risk of a violation of human rights to duly notify us of this and of the steps being taken to avoid or mitigate such a breach and, where this is not possible, for the business partner to provide for the remediation of the adverse human rights impact where they have caused or contributed to this. For the purposes of these Workplace Standards, human rights are a set of rights which recognise the inherent dignity, freedom and equality of all human beings, as expressed in the United Nation’s International Bill of Human Rights and in the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS FORCED LABOUR
Business partners must not use forced labour, whether in the form of prison labour, indentured labour, bonded labour or otherwise, or permit the trafficking in persons for the purposes of forced labour. No employee may be compelled to work through force or intimidation of any form, or as a means of political coercion or as punishment for holding or expressing political views.
CHILD LABOUR
Business partners must not employ children who are less than fifteen (15) years old, or less than the age for completing compulsory education in the country of manufacture where such age is higher than fifteen (15).
DISCRIMINATION
Business partners must not discriminate in recruitment and employment practices. Decisions about hiring, salary, benefits, training opportunities, work assignments, advancement, discipline and termination must be based solely on ability to perform the job, rather than on the basis of personal characteristics or beliefs, such as race, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, marital status, parental status, association membership, sexual orientation or political opinion. Additionally, business partners must implement effective measures to protect migrant employees against any form of discrimination and to provide appropriate support services that reflect their special status.
WAGES, BENEFITS & COMPENSATION
All legal requirements relating to wages and benefits must be met within the region in which the business partner operates. Wages must equal or exceed the minimum wage required by law or the prevailing industry wage, whichever is higher. In addition to compensation for regular working hours, employees must be compensated for overtime hours at the rate legally required in the country of manufacture or, in those countries where such laws do not exist, at a rate exceeding the regular hourly compensation rate. Workers have the right to compensation for a regular work week that is sufficient to meet workers’ basic needs and provide some discretionary income. Where compensation does not meet workers’ basic needs and provide some discretionary income, business partners must take appropriate actions to progressively raise employee compensation and living standards through improved wage systems, benefits, welfare programmes and other services.
WORKING HOURS
Hours of Work/Overtime. Compliance with legally mandated work hours.
FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION & COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Business partners must recognise and respect the right of employees to join and organise associations of their own choosing and to bargain collectively. Business partners must develop and fully implement mechanisms for resolving industrial disputes, including employee grievances, and ensure effective communication with employees and their representatives.
DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES
Employees must be treated with respect and dignity. No employee may be subjected to any physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse, or to fines or penalties as a disciplinary measure. Business partners must publicise and enforce a non-retaliation policy that permits factory employees to express their concerns about workplace conditions directly to factory management or to Kingsley Heath without fear of retribution or losing their jobs.
HEALTH & SAFETY
A safe and hygienic working environment must be provided, and occupational health and safety practices which prevent accidents and injury must be promoted. This includes protection from fire, accidents and toxic substances. Lighting, heating and ventilation systems must be adequate. Employees must have access at all times to sanitary facilities which should be adequate and clean. Business partners must have health and safety policies which are clearly communicated to employees. Where residential facilities are provided to employees, the same standards apply.
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Business partners must make progressive improvement in environmental performance in their own operations and require the same of their partners, suppliers and subcontractors. This includes: integrating principles of sustainability into business decisions; responsible use of natural resources; adoption of cleaner production and pollution prevention measures; and designing and developing products, materials and technologies according to the principles of sustainability