SUPPLIER STANDARDS POLICY
Aim
The aim is to show responsibility in relation to the working condition of the sites and locations used in the provision of goods or services to the company.
Scope
The code applies to our suppliers of products and services.
Suppler Duties
We require all suppliers at all times to comply with, and to ensure at all times their own supply chains comply with, as a minimum: 1) all applicable national and international responsible legislation; 2) the standard set out in Annex 1 below.
These are standards and objectives intended to protect our business and yours, to to protect employees in the supply chain.
Compliance with our standards are your responsibility and you must tell us immediately if you, or any part of your supply chain, fail to comply with these standards.
Annex 1 – Shellfish Ireland Supplier Code of Conduct
1. General
1.1 The company requires its commercial partners to conduct its business at the highest standards, which consists of values such as integrity, quality, excellence and compliance with the law.
1.2 The company requires (and requires the Supplier to have) certainty that the production and/or distribution of products for the company and/or the supplier is undertaken in accordance with these principles and not under inhumane, exploitive or illegal conditions.
1.3 The company has defined the basic standards as set out in this code and is dedicated to a practical approach when addressing or resolving compliance issues. Our standards are dynamic and evolving to ensure ongoing protection of employees and the environment.
2. Forced Labour and Modern Slavery
2.1 There is no forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour.
2.2 Workers are not required to lodge “deposits” or their identity papers with their employer and are free to leave their employer after reasonable notice.
3. Child labour shall not be used
3.1 The use of child labour is prohibited. The term “child” refers to a person younger than 14 years, or if higher, the local legal minimum age for employment or the age for completing compulsory education.
3.2 The supplier shall develop or participate in and contribute to policies and programmes which provide for transition of any child found to be performing child labour to enable her or him to attend and remain in quality education until no longer a child
3.3 Children and young persons under the age of 16 shall not be employed in regular full-time jobs
3.4 Children and young persons under the age of 18 shall not be employed at night, or in hazardous conditions or work excessive hours of overtime.
4. Freedom of association
4.1 Shellfish Ireland recognizes all employees’ rights to choose (or not) to affiliate legally sanctioned organisations or associations of their choice without unlawful intervention
4.2 Workers representatives are not discriminated against and have access to carry out their representative functions in the workplace.
5. Health and Safety
5.1 A safe and hygienic working environment shall be provided, 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.
5.2 Workers shall receive regular and recorded health and safety training, and such training shall be repeated for new or reassigned workers.
5.3 Access to clean toilet facilities and to potable water, and, if appropriate, sanitary facilities for food storage shall be provided.
5.4 Accommodation, where provided, shall be clean, safe, and meet the basic needs of the workers.
5.5 The company observing the code shall assign responsibility for health and safety to a senior management representative.
6. Working hours and Compensation
6.1 The Supplier must comply with all local wage and hour laws, including minimum wage laws, collective bargaining agreements (where required by local law) or shall match or exceed the current industry wage standard, if higher.
6.2 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.
6.3 Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted nor shall any deductions from wages not provided for by national law be permitted without the expressed permission of the worker concerned. All disciplinary measures should be recorded.
6.4 Normal working hours should be in compliance with local employment laws and regulations, and in eny event with a minimum one day off in every seven-day period.
6.5 All overtime shall be voluntary. Overtime shall be used responsibly, taking into account all the following: the extent, frequency and hours worked by individual workers and the workforce as a whole. It shall not be used to replace regular employment. Overtime shall always be compensated at a premium rate, which is recommended to be not less than 125% of the regular rate of pay.
6.6 The total hours worked in any 7 day period shall not exceed 60 hours, except where covered by clause 5.7 below.
6.7 Working hours may exceed 60 hours in any 7 day period only in exceptional circumstances where all of the following are met:
• this is allowed by national law;
• this is allowed by a collective agreement freely negotiated with a workers’ organisation representing a significant portion of the workforce;
• appropriate safeguards are taken to protect the workers’ health and safety; and
• the employer can demonstrate that exceptional circumstances apply such as unexpected production peaks, accidents or emergencies.
6.8 Workers shall be provided with at least one day off in every 7 day period or, where allowed by national law, 2 days off in every 14 day period.
7. Regular employment is provided
7.1 To every extent possible work performed must be on the basis of recognised employment relationship established through national law and practice.
7.2 Obligations to employees under labour or social security laws and regulations arising from the regular employment relationship shall not be avoided through the use of labour-only contracting, sub- contracting, or home-working arrangements, or through apprenticeship schemes where there is no real intent to impart skills or provide regular employment, nor shall any such obligations be avoided through the excessive use of fixed-term contracts of employment.
8. Environmental Impact
8.1 Shellfish Ireland maintains a commitment to sound environmental programmes and practices and encourages suppliers to reduce waste, to recycle and dispose of hazardous materials in a controlled and safe manner.
8.2 Suppliers must comply with all applicable local law relating to the environment and be equally committed to pursuing continuous efforts to improve the compatibility of its operations in the environment.
8.3 Suppliers must operate to a standard that will not risk the health and safety of its employees or the surrounding area. No discharge of hazardous materials including waste water and air pollution shall exceed local regulations.
9. Abuse and Discrimination
9.1 Employees must be treated with Dignity and Respect. No employees shall be subject to physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation, cruel or unusual disciplinary practices.
9.2 There is no discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.
10. Compliance and Consequences of Non-Compliance
10.1 Suppliers will comply with national laws of the territories in which they are conducting business, any local laws, regulations or standards applicable to their business and industry standards which have been established in their location.
10.2 Any data protection legislation are to be followed under European GDPR regulations
10.3 In the event that Shellfish Ireland suspects that the supplier has violated the Shellfish Ireland supplier Code of Conduct, Shellfish Ireland may require the supplier to implement a corrective action plan or may terminate any and all agreements with the supplier.