Supplier Code of Conduct
We are committed to treating all workers with respect and dignity, ensuring safe working conditions, and conducting
environmentally responsible, ethical operations. We expect suppliers in our operations and supply chain, and their
suppliers, to embrace the following social, environmental, and ethical responsibilities.
Supplier Conformance with Mobile Defenders’ Supplier Code of Conduct
- Underlying Obligations. In addition to these responsibilities, suppliers must comply with all applicable laws;
legal regulations, directives, and guidelines; and all obligations in any contract a supplier may have with us.
- On-Site Work. Suppliers using our properties or facilities will comply with all of our applicable policies and
requirements.
- Certifications. If we request specific industry, suppliers will make good faith efforts to obtain such
certifications in a timely manner.
- Information Disclosure. Suppliers will accurately disclose information regarding their labor, health and safety,
environmental practices, business activities, structure, financial situation, and performance, in accordance
with prevailing industry practices.
- Cooperation. Suppliers will cooperate with any information requests or audits we may initiate to confirm their
fulfillment of these responsibilities. Though we seek to work with suppliers to improve conditions, we may
terminate our relationship with any supplier that fails to meet these responsibilities.
LABOR AND HUMAN RIGHTS
We are committed to upholding the human rights of workers and treating them with dignity and respect. This
applies to all workers, including temporary, migrant, student, contract, direct employee, and any other type of
worker. As a result, suppliers must manage their own workforce in order to achieve the following
results:
- Freely Chosen Employment and Combating Modern Slavery. Suppliers will not use or permit any form of forced,
bonded, or indentured labor. All work must be voluntary, and all workers must be free to terminate their
employment at any time. Suppliers will not hold workers’ identity, immigration, or work permit documents longer
than reasonably necessary for administrative processing. Suppliers are expected not to require workers to pay
recruitment fees or other fees for their employment, either directly or through third parties, and are expected
to repay any worker that has paid such fees. Suppliers will not unreasonably restrict workers’ freedom to move
into, out of, or at working facilities. As part of the hiring process, suppliers are expected to give each
worker a written agreement describing the worker’s terms of employment in a language understood by the worker,
and, if internationally relocating, the written agreement will be provided before they leave their country of
origin.
- Young Workers and Student Interns. Suppliers will not use child labor. “Child” means any person under age 15,
under the age for completing compulsory education, or under the minimum age for employment in the country,
whichever is greatest. Workers under the age of 18 will not perform work that is likely to jeopardize their
health or safety, including night shifts and overtime. Suppliers may use legitimate, properly-managed
apprenticeship programs, such as student internships. Unless otherwise addressed by local law, suppliers are
expected to pay student workers, interns, and apprentices at least the same wage rates as other entry-level
workers performing equal or similar tasks.
- Wages. Suppliers will pay legally-mandated wages and benefits, will comply with the law regarding wage
deductions, and will provide workers with the basis on which workers are paid via pay stub or similar
documentation. Suppliers are expected not to deduct from wages as a disciplinary measure.
- Working Hours. Except in emergency or unusual situations, for suppliers’ workers paid hourly, workweeks are
expected not to exceed 60 hours per week (including overtime) or, if less, the maximum set by local law. Workers
should be allowed at least one day off every seven days.
- Fair Treatment, Non-Discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion. Suppliers will not permit harassment, abuse,
corporal punishment, or inhumane treatment. Suppliers will not subject workers or potential workers to unlawful
medical tests or physical exams. Suppliers will not discriminate in screening, hiring, or employment practices
based on race, color, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status,
ethnicity, national origin, caste, disability, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, religion,
political affiliation, union membership, covered veteran status, or body art. Workers’ religious practices will
be reasonably accommodated. Suppliers will not inquire about potential workers’ criminal histories on employment
applications or before initial interviews, or, if no interview is conducted, before making conditional offers of
employment. In addition, suppliers will demonstrate a commitment to identify, measure, and improve a culture of
diversity and inclusion through all aspects of workplace management.
- Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining. Workers will be permitted to associate freely, bargain
collectively, and seek representation in accordance with local laws. Suppliers are expected to permit workers to
openly communicate and share grievances with management about working conditions without fear of reprisal or
harassment.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Suppliers will integrate the following health and safety management requirements into business processes to
provide workers with a healthy and safe work environment:
- Occupational Safety and Health. Suppliers will comply with all applicable safety and health laws and
regulations, and identify, evaluate, and control worker exposure to safety and health hazards, including
chemical, biological, physical, and ergonomic stress, through proper design, engineering controls, maintenance,
safe work procedures, and ongoing health and safety guidance. Where these means cannot adequately control
hazards, suppliers will protect workers with appropriate personal protective equipment and provide them with
information about risks to them from these hazards. Suppliers will implement procedures to prevent, manage,
track, and report occupational injury and illness, including encouraging worker reporting, classifying and
recording cases, providing medical treatment, investigating cases, implementing corrective actions, and
facilitating workers’ return to work.
- Emergency Preparedness. Suppliers will identify and plan for potential emergencies, and will implement emergency
plans and provide guidance to workers on emergency response procedures, including emergency reporting, worker
notification and evacuation, drills, fire detection and suppression equipment, exit facilities, and recovery
plans.
- Sanitation, Food, and Housing. Suppliers will provide workers with ready access to clean toilet facilities,
potable water, and sanitary food preparation, storage, and eating facilities. If suppliers provide workers with
residential facilities, those facilities will be clean and safe, with adequate personal space, entry and exit
privileges, emergency egresses, heat and ventilation, and hot water for bathing and showering.
ENVIRONMENTAL
We recognize that environmental responsibility is integral to producing first-class products. Suppliers are
expected to create regenerative processes and will minimize adverse effects on the community, environment, and
natural resources while safeguarding the health and safety of the public. In addition:
- Environmental Permits and Reporting. Suppliers will obtain and keep current all required environmental permits,
approvals, and registrations, and follow their operational and reporting requirements.
- Resource Efficiency and Clean Energy. Throughout their operations, suppliers will work to reduce consumption of
resources, including raw materials, energy, and water. Suppliers will track, document, and seek to minimize
energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and seek ways to improve energy efficiency and use cleaner
sources of energy.
- Hazardous and Restricted Substances. Suppliers will identify and manage chemicals and other materials that pose
a hazard to the environment, to ensure their safe handling, use, storage, and disposal. Suppliers will identify,
monitor, control, treat, and reduce hazardous air emissions, wastewater, and waste generated from its
operations. Suppliers will adhere to our requirements restricting use of specific substances, including labeling
for recycling or disposal.
- Waste Mitigation: Wastewater, Solid Waste and Storm Water Management. Suppliers will work to reduce or eliminate
waste of all types. Where waste cannot be eliminated, suppliers will manage and control all waste streams to
comply with applicable laws and regulations, and in an environmentally responsible and secure way; this
includes, but is not limited to, preventing illegal discharges and spills from entering storm drains, and
treating as required prior to discharge or disposal of all wastewater and solid waste from operations,
industrial processes, and sanitation facilities.
ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE
Suppliers will uphold the highest standards of ethics to promote honesty and integrity in business
operations, including:
- Business Integrity. Suppliers will avoid actual and perceived conflicts of interest in their work with us, and
will immediately disclose any known family or other close personal relationships with our employees who have an
influence over their engagements with us. If suppliers extend any business courtesies to our employees, they
will do so infrequently and the courtesies must be of no more than moderate value. Suppliers will also
accurately reflect their business dealings in their books and records. Suppliers will not offer or accept any
form of bribery, corruption, extortion, or embezzlement. Suppliers will not make illegal payments directly or
indirectly. Suppliers will implement monitoring and enforcement procedures to ensure compliance with
anti-corruption laws.
- Intellectual Property. Suppliers will respect intellectual property rights, and will conduct technology and
know-how transfers in a manner protecting intellectual property rights.
- Responsible Materials Sourcing. Suppliers will maintain a policy reasonably assuring that any tantalum, tin,
tungsten, and gold in products they manufacture does not directly or indirectly benefit armed groups that commit
human rights abuses. Suppliers will exercise, and will make available to us upon request, due diligence on the
source and chain of custody of these minerals.
- Privacy and Information Security. Suppliers will protect the privacy of personal information of everyone with
whom they do business, including suppliers, customers, consumers, and workers.
- Accessibility. Suppliers will embed relevant web accessibility standards, innovation, and best practices to
deliver inclusive products and services for our users and stakeholders.
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Suppliers are expected to adopt or establish a management system to carry out these responsibilities. The
management system will be designed to ensure suppliers’ operations: (a) comply with our requirements and
applicable laws and regulations; (b) conform to these responsibilities; and (c) identify and mitigate
operational risks related to these responsibilities. It should also facilitate continual improvement:
- The management system should contain the following elements: executive level commitment and accountability;
processes to identify, monitor, and comply with all applicable laws, regulations, standards, and requirements;
risk management processes; communications and training for all workers and suppliers as determined by suppliers;
ongoing assessments, monitoring, and continued improvement, including corrective action processes; a program
that provides workers with a means to report grievances anonymously and without fear of retaliation, unless
prohibited by law; and a program to ensure suppliers will continuously monitor these reporting processes, record
issues raised, and take appropriate action.
TRANSPARENCY IN SUPPLY CHAINS ACT DISCLOSURE
This disclosure is provided pursuant to the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act of 2010, Section
1714.43 of the California Civil Code, which requires retailers and manufacturers above a certain size and
doing business in California to disclose what efforts, if any, they have taken to monitor human trafficking
and the use of slave labor in their supply chains.
Our organization recognizes the critical role we play in providing services and selling products that
improve the lives of our customers. Doing so requires us to balance the social, environmental and
economic benefits and risks of the products we offer, including how they are sourced, manufactured
and used.
Suppliers and employees play a key role in our efforts to ensure that we manage our global
supply chain in a sustainable way. We source products from reputable companies with responsible
business practices. Our suppliers are required to sign a Supplier Code of Conduct that obligates them to
conduct their business in compliance with various laws and ethical business practices including, but not
limited to, laws that prohibit slavery and human trafficking. If a supplier fails to do so, we may terminate
our business relationship and pursue other legal remedies against the supplier.
Additionally, the Company maintains internal accountability standards and procedures regarding
employee compliance with applicable laws, which includes any laws regarding slavery and human
trafficking.
The Company produces a confidential, annual compliance report and submits the report to its CEO and
Board members so that they may take corrective action and improve the Company’s internal controls
and policies as they deem necessary.