This policy aims to provide clarity to our employees, customers, suppliers, investors and other stakeholders concerning Dark Blue Internationals’ commitment and approach to respecting human rights and labour standards throughout our direct operations and areas of our supply chain covered by the requirements of the UK National Health Service Supply Chain Labour Standards Assurance System requirements. The aim of Dark Blue International Ltd.’s Ethical Purchasing Policy is to purchase goods and services that are produced and delivered under conditions that do not exploit or abuse any persons or the environment.
This is a key area in the decision-making process of goods and services purchased by Dark Blue International Ltd.
Purpose
The reason for this policy is for the promotion of good labour and environmental standards throughout the supply chain in the provision of goods and services to our clients and secondly to protect Dark Blue International Ltd.’s reputation.
The following principles and advice form the framework of this policy:
- There are safe working conditions
- There is no child labour
- Employment is freely chosen
- There are not excessive working hours
- Wages are required to meet national legal standards
- There is training provided
- There is no practise of discrimination
- There is diversity within the workforce
- There is no inhumane treatment
Safe working conditions:
There is a senior manager responsible for compliance and monitoring of appropriate health and safety standards. Staff should have the necessary training and equipment relating to health and safety. There needs to be pleasant working conditions and hygiene. Employees should have access to water suitable for drinking and washing. Lavatories should be clean. Workers housing, should it be provided, need to meet the same standards for health and safety as the workplace.
No child labour:
A strict policy of Dark Blue International Ltd is that children under the age of 15 should have the opportunity for full-time education and not need to work for a living. Any workers aged between 15 and 18 should also not work in a high-risk environment, or at night. Should children be found to be working, immediate and appropriate remediation by the employer should be taken, particularly regarding education. Even if no children are employed, the supplier should have a clear policy for dealing with under-age workers. Should any instance of child labour be identified, we would work closely with our suppliers to develop an appropriate and sustainable solution whose focus, first and foremost, is the welfare of the child.
Employment is freely chosen:
Employees should have the right to freedom of association, to be able to join an independent trade union or other workers’ associations and have representative functions within the workplace. This need to also be based on their local laws. Employees should have the freedom to be able to choose work void of any forced labour. Should local laws restrict freedom of association and collective bargaining, there should be some sort of facility in place to offer alternative democratic means of representation.
No excessive working hours:
Employee working hours need to comply with national and international laws or industry standards. Clear and easily understood disciplinary, grievance and appeal procedures should be provided. These need to be lawful and appropriate. Should there be any disciplinary measures, employees should not be prevented their afforded legal or contractual rights. Suppliers need to record all disciplinary measures.
Minimum wages:
Wages and benefits are required to meet national legal standards, at a minimum. Wages should always be high enough to meet basic needs and to provide some discretionary income.
Training is provided:
Training and development programs need to be in place to improve workers’ skills in relation to the roles they perform.
There is no practice of discrimination:
The workplace should be free of all discrimination pertaining to hiring, training, compensation, advancement, termination or retirement either directly or indirectly.
There is diversity within the workforce:
Diversity and good workforce practices should be encouraged.
No inhumane treatment:
Suppliers should prohibit physical, or the threat of physical abuse or coercion, sexual or other harassment as well as verbal abuse and other forms of intimidation.