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Ethical Standards Statement
For the past several years, Quality Winter Clothing has participated
and continues to participate in an earnest and ongoing dialogue with
Business Partners that are concerned about the standards to which Quality
Winter Clothing holds its suppliers.
In order to conduct business with Quality Winter Clothing, suppliers
must conform to ethical standards of business practices. Quality Winter
Clothing or an independent 3rd party, regularly monitors our supplier’s
factories compliance with the Standards.
Quality Winter Clothing manages its business in a manner consistent
with these Standards. We expect our suppliers to do the same, as it
is the right thing to do and the conduct of our suppliers can impact
our reputation among customers and shareholders.
Quality Winter Clothing suppliers must comply with the legal requirements
and standards in the countries in which they do business. This includes
labour, employment, environmental, and health and safety laws. If the
local industry standards exceed the country's legal requirements, Quality
Winter Clothing expects its suppliers to follow the industry standards.
Quality Winter Clothing Standards for Suppliers address the following
general areas:
- Child Labour
- Compensation
- Local/ National Laws
- Forced Labour
- Working Hours
- Discrimination
- Workplace Health & Safety
- Environmental Concerns
Child Labour
Quality Winter Clothing does not tolerate the use of child labour in
the manufacture of the products it sells. Quality Winter Clothing will
not accept products from suppliers who use, in any manner, child
labour
in the manufacture their products.
Suppliers must assure that their factories, or the factories of their
direct or indirect subcontractors, employ no person at an age younger
than 15 (or 14 where the law of the country of manufacture allows).
Forced Labour
Quality Winter Clothing does not tolerate forced labour. Suppliers must
assure that their factories maintain employment on a voluntary basis.
Quality Winter Clothing will not accept products from suppliers who
use, in any manner, forced labour in manufacturing their products.
Compensation
Quality Winter Clothing requires its suppliers to assure that factory
workers are fairly compensated. Suppliers' employees, and employees
at the factory supplier’s use, should be compensated with wages
and benefits in compliance with local laws.
Suppliers must also assure that Australian factory workers are paid
in compliance with the wage and hour provisions of State Award or higher
as well as any applicable state or local requirements.
Working Hours
Suppliers must assure that factories maintain reasonable employee work
hours in compliance with local laws in the countries in which they do
business. Employees must not work more hours in one week than allowable
under applicable law, and are to be properly compensated for overtime
work.
Quality Winter Clothing will not do business with suppliers who, on
a regular basis, use factories that require employees to work excessive
hours, and will not do business with suppliers who use factories that
fail to compensate employees properly. Employees should be permitted
reasonable days off (at least one day off for a seven day period).
Discrimination
Quality Winter Clothing recognises that cultural differences exist among
the various countries. However, we believe that all terms and conditions
of employment must be based on an individual's ability to perform the
functions of the job and not on the basis of personal characteristics
or beliefs.
Factories used by suppliers must have a social and political commitment
to basic human rights and must not discriminate against employees in
their hiring procedures or any other term or condition of employment
on the basis of race, colour, national origin, gender, religion, disability,
personal beliefs or other similar factors.
Workplace Health & Safety
Quality Winter Clothing maintains a safe, clean, and healthy environment
for its associates and expects the same from its suppliers. Suppliers
must assure that the factories they use provide employees with safe
and healthy working conditions, adequate first-aid facilities, fire
exits, safety equipment, properly lit and comfortable workstations,
clean restrooms, and adequate living quarters where necessary. Workers
should be trained to perform their jobs safely.
Quality Winter Clothing will not do business with any supplier that
fails to assure that its factories provide a healthy and safe work environment,
or suppliers whose factories utilise mental or physical disciplinary
practices.
Environmental Concerns
We believe it is our role to be a leader in protecting our environment.
We have had EnviroFur for over 20 years, currently available Ex-stock
in Navy, Green and Brown. We require our suppliers to reduce excess
packaging and to use recycled and non-toxic materials whenever possible.
We will favour suppliers who share our commitment to the environment.
Quality Winter Clothing SUPPLIER COMPLIANCE OBJECTIVES
Identify areas of non-compliance with Quality Winter Clothing Supplier
Standards;
Educate suppliers about Quality Winter Clothing concerns and policies;
and
Cause supplier factories to make corrections required to meet Quality Winter Clothing Standards.
Quality Winter Clothing has implemented an audit system to ensure that
suppliers' factories adhere to the Quality Winter Clothing Supplier
Standards. This includes:
On-site visits, and Personal interviews Quality Winter Clothing applies
this audit system to all merchandise imported directly by Quality Winter Clothing.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Question: Why doesn't Quality Winter Clothing provide a list
of all of the factories from which we purchase merchandise?
Answer: Quality Winter Clothing does not provide such a list
because it would unnecessarily disclose competitively sensitive information.
Quality Winter Clothing: STANDARDS FOR SUPPLIERS
Quality Winter Clothing requires its suppliers to conform to the highest
standards of business practices. Its suppliers, their contractors, and
sub-contractors must comply with the following standards. (Quality Winter Clothing reserves the right to make unannounced inspections of supplier's
facilities to satisfy itself of supplier compliance.)
All suppliers shall comply with the legal requirements and standards
of their industry under the national laws of the countries in which
the suppliers do business, including labour and employment laws of those
countries and any applicable Australian laws. If the industry standards
exceed the countries' requirements, Quality Winter Clothing will
favour
suppliers who meet industry standards. All merchandise shall be accurately
marked or labelled with its country of origin in compliance with applicable
laws.
Employment: Quality Winter Clothing expects its suppliers to
comply with the following conditions of employment.
Compensation: Suppliers shall fairly compensate employees by
providing wages and benefits which are in compliance with the national
laws of the countries in which the suppliers are doing business, or
which are consistent with the prevailing local standards in the countries,
if the prevailing local standards are higher.
Hours of Labour: Suppliers shall maintain reasonable employee work hours
in compliance with local standards and applicable national laws of the
countries. Employees shall not work more hours in one week than allowable
under applicable law, and shall be properly compensated for overtime
work. We favour suppliers who comply with the statutory requirements
for working hours for employees, and we will not use suppliers who,
on a regularly basis, require employees to work in excess of the statutory
requirements without proper compensation as required by applicable law.
Employees should be permitted reasonable days off (which is at least
one day off for every seven-day period) and leave privileges.
Forced/Prison Labour: Quality Winter Clothing will not tolerate Forced
or prison labour.
Child Labour: Quality Winter Clothing will not tolerate the
use of child labour in the manufacture of products. No person shall be
employed at an age younger than 15 (or 14 where the law of the country
of manufacture allows).
Discrimination/Rights: All conditions of employment must be
based on an individual's ability to do the job, not on the basis of
personal characteristics or beliefs. Quality Winter Clothing favours
suppliers who do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national
origin, gender, religion, disability, and other similar factors.
Workplace Environment: Suppliers shall furnish employees with
safe and healthy working conditions. Factories shall provide adequate
medical facilities, fire exits and safety equipment, well-lighted and
comfortable workstations, clean rest rooms, and where necessary, adequate
living quarters. Workers must be adequately trained to perform their
jobs safely.
Concern for the Environment: We encourage suppliers to reduce
excess packaging and to use recycled and non-toxic materials.
Right of Inspection: Quality Winter Clothing or a third party
designated by Quality Winter Clothing will take certain actions, such
as inspection of production facilities, to implement and monitor these
standards.
Confidentiality: Suppliers shall not disclose to others and
will not use for its own purposes or the purpose of others any trade
secrets, confidential information, knowledge, designs, data, skill,
or any other information considered by Quality Winter Clothing as "confidential".
If you know of a violation of these standards by a vendor, please call
(61 02 9829 2222). Or in writing to:
e-mail: ethics@qwc.com.au
