Supplier code of conduct

The Devonshire Group is committed to meeting the highest standards of ethical trading and as such requires all direct suppliers in the Group supply chain to agree to the Devonshire Group Supplier Code of Conduct.

The aim is to ensure safe and fair working conditions within the Group supply chain and promote the responsible management of social and environmental issues. The Devonshire Group Code of Conduct is based on the following international standards:

• The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code
• The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Standards of Conduct

1. Employment is Freely Chosen

• • There is no forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour.
  • Workers are not required to lodge “deposits” or their identity papers with their employer and are free to leave their employer after reasonable notice.

2. Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected

• • Workers, without distinction, have the right to join or form trade unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively.
  • The employer adopts an open attitude towards the activities of trade unions and their organisational activities.
  • Worker representatives are not discriminated against and have access to carry out their representative functions in the workplace.
  • Where the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining is restricted under law, the employer facilitates, and does not hinder, the development of parallel means for independent and free association and bargaining.

3. Working Conditions are Safe and Hygienic

• • 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.
  • Workers shall receive regular and recorded health and safety training, and such training shall be repeated for new or reassigned workers.
  • Access to clean toilet facilities and to potable water, and, if appropriate, sanitary facilities for food storage shall be provided.
  • Accommodation, where provided, shall be clean, safe, and meet the basic needs of the workers.
  • The supplier shall assign responsibility for health and safety to a senior management representative.

4. Child labour shall not be used

• • There shall be no child labour.
  • Young persons under 18 shall not be employed at night or in hazardous conditions.
  • The supplier will always conform to the relevant International Labour Organisation standards.

5. Wage payment

• • Wages and benefits paid meet, at a minimum, national legal standards.
  • All workers shall be provided with clear, written information about their employment conditions in respect to wages before they commence their employment and about the particulars of their wages for the pay period concerned each time that they are paid.
  • Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted nor shall any deductions from wages not provided for by national law. All disciplinary measures should be recorded.

6. Working hours are not excessive

• • Working hours comply with national laws and are not deemed excessive by industry standards.

7. No discrimination is practised

• • 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.

8. Regular employment is provided

• • To every extent possible work performed must be on the basis of a recognised employment relationship established through national law and practice.
  • Obligations to workers 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.

9. No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed

• • Physical abuse or discipline, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation shall be prohibited.
  • Suppliers will have a formal disciplinary and grievance appeal procedure with documented records of individual disciplinary hearings. Such a procedure will support fair treatment of workers.

10. Entitlement to Work

• • Suppliers should only employ or use workers with a legal right to work in the country.
  • The supplier must validate, by reviewing original documents and then returning them to the workers, all workers’ and employment agency workers’ legal right to work.
  • Employment agencies can only supply workers registered with them.
  • The supplier is expected to establish a process that effectively monitors the provisions of this paragraph.

11. Protection of the Environment

• • Suppliers shall carry out their activities in accordance with national laws, regulations, administrative practices and policies relating to the preservation of the environment of the countries in which they operate as well as in accordance with relevant international agreements, principles, objectives, responsibilities and standards with regard to the environment.