SKINS Code of Conduct

Please report breaches of this Code to a SKINS representative, QC staff or employee or by email to: complaint2015@skins.net

RIGHTS OF MAN“Whatever is my right as a man is also the right of another; and it becomes my duty to guarantee as well as to possess.” – Thomas Paine, Rights of Man

SKINS has a core belief that it lives by and expects of others. It is the fundamental belief in the true spirit of competition. This belief not only extends to sport but it also extends to how we conduct ourselves in life. If we seek to compete with ourselves to do better, to

be better, to treat our friends and partners better, then the collective good of that competition makes us better.

SKINS has clear and unambiguous standards that it sets for itself and its partners. These standards can be called a Code of Conduct, but for SKINS these are inalienable rights expected to be implemented as a minimum by a SKINS partner for the care and protection of our valuable factory workers.

EMPLOYMENT IS VOLUNTARYA SKINS partner does not use forced labour of any kind whether it be prison labour, indentured labour, bonded labour or otherwise.

EMPLOYMENT IS FOR WORKERS 16 YEARS OR OVERA factory worker is not someone who is 15 years or younger. A SKINS partner will only employ workers of 16 years or older. If the legal working age for the country is older then 16 years then this is the relevant age limit for SKINS. Workers under the age of 18 must not work with hazardous chemicals or conditions.

HARASSMENT OR ABUSEEvery employee shall be treated with respect and dignity. No worker shall be subject to any physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse.

NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WORKERSNo worker shall be subject to any discrimination in employment, hiring, salary, compensation, promotion, discipline, termination or retirement on the basis of gender, race, religion, age, pregnancy, disability, nationality, political opinion, social or ethnic origin, trade union affiliation, sexual orientation, parental status, marital status or any other status protected by the laws of the relevant country.

FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATIONTo the extent permitted by the laws of the relevant country, workers have the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. This includes the right to form and join trade unions and other work organisations of their own choosing without harassment, interference or retaliation.

HEALTH AND SAFETYThe work environment will be a safe, hygienic and healthy place to work. A SKINS partner will take all necessary steps to prevent accidents and injury to workers in the workplace. A SKINS partner must have systems in place to detect, avoid and respond to potential risks and injury to workers.

COMPENSATION PAID ON TIMEA worker will be paid at least the minimum wage and mandated benefits including holiday and leave allowance and severance pay required by the laws of the relevant country. There will be no deductions for disciplinary matters.

WORKING HOURS WILL NOT BE EXECESSIVEA worker will not work in excess of 60 hours per week, or the regular and overtime hours allowed by the laws of the manufacturing country, whichever is less. Overtime hours will be consensual and compensated at a premium rate. Workers will have at least 24 hours rest in any 7 day period.

EMPLOYMENT IS REGULAR AND RECOGNISEDWorkers must perform work for the SKINS partner as part of a recognised employment relationship by the relevant country. There will be no arrangements of workers providing manufacturing services in the home.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ARE MINIMISEDA SKINS partner must make progressive improvements in environmental performance of their operations by integrating principles of sustainability into business decisions, responsible use of natural recourses and adoption of reasonable measures to mitigate negative operational impacts on the environment. A SKINS partner must also protect human health and the environment by meeting applicable regulatory requirements of the relevant country including air emissions, solid/hazardous waste and water discharge.

IMPORTANT: THIS CODE MUST BE FULLY IMPLEMENTEDAs a condition of doing business with SKINS, a SKINS partner must implement and integrate ALL of the standards set out above for the benefit of the valuable workers. The SKINS partner will allow SKINS and its agents and partners access to ALL facilities under its control or the control of related or associated parties for the purposes of inspection and verification of the implementation of the standards set out above. A SKINS partner shall post this Code, in the language(s) of its employees, throughout their workspaces and train employees on their rights and obligations as defined by this Code.