Ethical Trading Policy

Halspan considers it is important to behave in a socially, and ethically exemplary way in its business dealings, ensuring that:

Products sourced by us are produced under working conditions that safe, and free of hazards to health.
All persons involved in the provision, and delivery of products and services provided are treated with full consideration to their basic human rights.
We remain committed to implementing the principles of the Ethical Trading Imitative base code (although we are not members of the ETI).

This policy continues to set out both the commitment by Halspan and the measures we are taking to ensure that we continue to act in an ethical manner, and as regards to:

Halspan Employees; It is our ongoing aim to operate above the minimum standards required by national, and international employment law, and to further ensure our employees remain safe, rewarded, and valued. As we expand, we will be also intend to offer more opportunities for our employees.

Halspan Customers; We remain committed to demonstrating our ethical and social responsibility credentials to our customers in order to enable them to make informed choices about whose products and services they purchase.

Halspan Suppliers; We will not engage in any business activity with suppliers who do not meet or are found to be non-compliant with any of our ethical values or core requirements (detailed below), and we therefore encourage our suppliers to operate the same ethical standard we employ ourselves.

Ethical Trading Core Requirements – Suppliers

Employment

Suppliers must not use any form of forced, bonded or involuntary labour, nor should they be subject to physical or verbal abuse or threats or intimidation of any description. Employees must not be obliged to handover their identity details or pay any deposit as a condition of work. They additionally must within the UK not employ any person under the age of 16, or the minimum legal working age in any other country in question. Employees must not be subject to physical, sexual or verbal abuse or threats or intimidation of any description, nor be required to work extreme hours or work without adequate rest periods.

Working Environments

Supplier employees are entitled to safe, and hygienic working environment, they must not be subject to unsafe or unhealthy working conditions, including dangerous machinery, unsafe building structure or lay-out, and suppliers must comply with all local, and national health, safety, and environmental laws, in addition to providing regular, and adequate safety training, and such training shall be repeated for new or reassigned.

Workers

Buildings used by supplier employees must be safe, and hygienic with the required number of safe, and accessible fire exits from all buildings and there must be adequate access to reasonably maintained welfare facilities.

Hours of Work, Remuneration and Benefits

Suppliers are required to comply with local and national legislation regulating employment, hours of work, minimum wage, including without limitation to holidays, sick leave, maternity, and paternity leave provisions. Whilst not seeking to avoid legal obligations to employees by any means.

Supplier employees must not be required to work excessive hours and be entitled to at least one day off in each 7 days period, and overtime must be strictly voluntary.

Supplier employees must be provided with clear and understandable written information about their employment conditions, including pay and hours or work, before commencing work, and suppliers must at all times maintain proper, and accurate employment records.

Deductions from any supplier employee’s wages must be of a reasonable sum, and relate to the service provided for that deduction. Such employees in all instances must give their express agreement for each deduction, and such agreement may not form a part of their employment contract. The use of fines as a disciplinary measure is not acceptable.

Respect for Employees

Suppliers must conduct their business in a manner which recognises the entitlement of all individual employees to be treated equally with dignity, and respect, and to work in an environment free from harassment, physical, and verbal abuse, threats or intimidation of any description.

Any requirement for disciplinary action must remain fair, and appropriate to the circumstance, and must be clearly set out, and communicated to supplier employees, including for the right to appeal, and have representation in attendance at all levels of disciplinary proceedings.

Suppliers must not discriminate against their employees in any manner on the grounds of gender race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, national origin, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age, marital or civil partnership status, disability or any other criteria.

Trade Union Membership

Suppliers must ensure that all their employees retain the right to join a trade union, and to organise collective bargaining in a lawful and peaceful manner, and not discriminate against those employees who engage in such activities.

Ethical Standards

Suppliers must conduct their business activity in an ethical manner, and must not seek to gain competitive advantage by means of unethical or dishonest practices, including without limitation to bribery, corruption, kickbacks, and the provision of gifts, favours or services.

Environmental Standards

Suppliers must comply with all local and national environmental regulations and in any event they must demonstrate an awareness of environmental matters and a commitment to improving waste reduction, increased recycling, reduction of pollution and increased use of environmentally friendly products from sustainable sources.