På norsk: Etiske retningslinjer for leverandører

Introduction

An important aspect with social responsibility is the work conditions for the employees that take part in the production of the products that are sold by Foto.no AS. Therefore, we have adopted ethical guidelines for our suppliers. These guidelines are based on internationally recognized work- and human rights, as well as other ethical and environmental requirements. 

Foto.no AS’ suppliers are to comply with our Ethical Guidelines for suppliers. Foto.no AS also expects that our suppliers ensure that subcontractors for agreed assortment, including suppliers and subcontractors further back in the supply chain, also comply with our Ethical Guidelines for Suppliers. 

If a deviation arises, we expect measures to be implemented to amend said deviation. The time frame for said implementation is to be agreed between the supplier and Foto.no AS.

In the case of repeated deviations, and/or the supplier does not show willingness to implement measures to amend the deviation(s), Foto.no AS may consider terminating the relationship with the supplier. 

Our goal is to positively affect the work that goes into human rights, worker’s rights, and protection of the environment, both in our own company, and for our business partners. 

In general, suppliers and subcontractors must follow the laws of their respective countries. In the event that the laws and regulations contradict Foto.no AS’ Ethical guidelines for suppliers, the strictest law and/or regulations shall apply.

Workplace Conditions

1.    Forced labor/slaved labor (ILO Convention nr. 29 and 105)

1.1    No form of forced labor, slaved labor, or involuntarily labor is acceptable, and shall not occur.
1.2    The employees shall not be required to deliver a monetary deposit or identity papers to the employer and be free to end the employment within reasonable time.

2.    Unionizing and collective negotiation (ILO Convention nr. 87, 98, 135 and 154)
2.1    Employees shall without restriction have the right to join or establish a union at their own will and be able to negotiate collectively.
2.2    The employer shall not discriminate union representatives or hinder them in any way of doing their union work.
2.3    In the case that these rights are limited by law, the employer shall facilitate, and in no way shape or form hinder, parallel mechanisms for free and independent organization and negotiation.

3.    Child labor (FN child convention, ILO convention nr. 79, 138, 182 and ILO recommendation nr. 146)
3.1    The minimum age for employees shall be no lower than 15 years old in line with
I)    National legal minimum age for employment, or;
II)    Minimum age for obligatory schooling, with the highest age that counts.
If the local minimum age is 14 years old in line with the exception in ILO Convention nr. 138, it may be allowed.

3.2    New recruitment of child labor contrary to the minimum age mentioned above shall not take place.
3.3    Children under 18 years of age shall not do work that may harm their health, security, or morality, including working at night.
3.4    There shall be established a plan of actions for phasing out child labor that is not in line with ILO Convention nr. 138 and 182. The plan of actions shall be documented and communicated with relevant staff and other interested parties. Arrangements must be made for support schemes where children are given the opportunity for education until the child is no longer of compulsory school age.

4.    Discrimination (ILO Conventions no 100 and 111 and The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) by UN)
4.1    There shall be no discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, trade union membership or political affiliation.
4.2    There shall be established protection against sexually intrusive, threatening, insulting or exploitative behavior, discrimination or dismissal on unfair grounds such as marital status, pregnancy, parental status, or status as an HIV infected.
4.3    Workers with equal experience and qualifications shall receive the same salary for work of equal value.

5.    Inhuman and brutal treatment
5.1    Physical abuse or punishment, or the threat of physical abuse must be prohibited.
5.2  The same applies to sexual or other abuse, and various forms of humiliation.

6.    Environment, health, and safety, EHS (ILO convention no 155 and no 164 recommendation)
6.1    The workers must have a safe and healthy working environment. Necessary measures must be taken to prevent and minimize accidents and health damage as a result of, or related to, conditions at the workplace. 
6.2    The workers must have regular and documented training in health and safety. Health and safety training must be repeated for new employees.
6.3    The workers must have access to clean sanitary facilities and clean drinking water. If relevant, the employer must also provide access to facilities for safe storage for food.
6.4    If the employer provides accommodation, this must be clean, safe and adequately ventilated and with access to clean sanitary facilities and clean drinking water.
7.    Salary (ILO convention no 131)
7.1    Workers’ salaries must be in line with the national minimum wage regulations or the industry standard, whichever is higher. Salary must always be sufficient to cover basic needs, including some savings.
7.2    Salary ratio and payment of wages must be agreed in writing before work begins.
7.3    The agreement must be comprehensible to the worker.
7.4    Deductions from wages as a disciplinary reaction is not permitted.
8.    Working hours (ILO convention no 1 and 14)
8.1    Working hours must be in line with national laws or industry standards, and not exceed working hours in accordance with applicable international conventions. Normal working hours per week must not normally exceed 48 hours.
8.2    Workers must have at least one day off per seven days.
8.3    Overtime must be limited and voluntary. The recommended maximum overtime is 12 hours per week, i.e. total working hours of 60 hours per week. Exceptions to this can be accepted if it is regulated by a collective agreement or national law.
8.4    Compensation must be given for overtime for working hours exceeding normal working hours (see point 8.1 above), at least in line with the applicable laws.
9.    Regular Employment
9.1    Obligations towards the workers, in line with international conventions and/or national laws and regulations on regular employment shall not be circumvented through the use of short-term engagements (such as the use of contract workers, temporary workers and day workers), subcontractors or other employment relationships.
9.2    All workers are entitled to an employment contract in a language they understand.
9.3    Apprenticeships must be clearly defined with regard to duration and content.

Conditions Outside The Workplace

10.    Resources and local environmental impact
10.1    No environmental crime or overexploitation of local resources shall occur
10.2    The area around the production site shall not be harmed by pollution. Harmful chemicals and other substances need to be handled properly 
10.3    In the event of conflict with the local community on land use or use of natural resources, all parties shall, through negotiations, ensure respect for individual and collective rights to land and resources based on custom/assertion, even if the rights have not been formalized. 
10.4    The production, and the extraction of raw materials for production, shall not contribute to destroying the resource and income base for marginalized population groups, for example by confiscating large areas of land or other natural resources on which these population groups depend.

Environmental protection and animal ethics

11.    National and international environmental protection legislation and regulation
11.1    Production shall not conflict with national or international legislation and regulation regarding environmental protection.
11.2    Required emission permits need to be obtained
11.3    Accomplish actions to reduce negative effects to health and environment throughout the value chain by minimizing emissions, encourage effective and sustainable use of resources, including energy and water, and minimizing the emission of greenhouse gases in production and transport.
11.4    The environment around the production site shall not be exploited or damaged by pollution
11.5    Animal ethical considerations
11.6    In the production of animal products, animal ethical considerations must be maintained throughout the value chain.

Corruption

12.    Corruption
All forms of bribery are unacceptable, such as the use of alternative channels to secure illegitimate private or work-related benefits to customers, agents, contractors, suppliers or their employees and public officials. Political or cultural circumstances can in some cases make it challenging to comply with some of the requirements in this standard. In such cases, Foto.no AS is open to discussing alternative approaches and solutions.