Supplier Code of Conduct Policy
1. Purpose
Scholastic believe in the worth and dignity of each individual and pledge to uphold the basic freedoms of all individuals; and are unalterably opposed to any system of government or society that denies these freedoms. The organisation opposes discrimination of any kind on the basis of race, creed, colour, sex, age, or national origin. This Code of Conduct outlines the Company’s policy for supplier ethics. For the purposes of this policy the term supplier is defined as someone whose business is to supply a particular service or commodity to the Company. Scholastic will only work with reputable suppliers who are committed to working towards compliance with the standards of the Code of Conduct.
2. Scope
The Company is committed to ensuring that its suppliers adhere to the highest standards of ethics. Suppliers are required to demonstrate that they provide safe working conditions where they treat workers with dignity and respect and act ethically and within the law in their use of labour. The Company works with suppliers to ensure that they meet legal and ethical standards at all times. The Company undertakes due diligence when considering taking on new suppliers and reviews a random selection of existing suppliers on a regular basis. It is the responsibility of all managers who manage suppliers to ensure compliance of this policy.
3. Obligations
The following summarises the Company’s policy for supplier ethics and our most basic requirements which must be met in order to trade in any way with the Company. By signing a Scholastic contract, suppliers explicitly agree to adhere to this Code of Conduct.
- Compliance with relevant legislation: Suppliers providing products/services to Scholastic must adhere to all applicable national laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, those laws specifically mentioned in the Code of Conduct.
- Use of Sub-contractors: Suppliers must notify Scholastic if they employ third-party sub-contractors to provide products and/or services to Scholastic and must ensure the third-party sub-contractor complies with the Code of Conduct.
- Remunerative Compensation: Suppliers are prohibited from providing gifts or any forms of remuneration to Scholastic employees or their families with the intent to influence business decisions as per the Bribery Act 2010. Suppliers must certify that no Scholastic employee is a member of the Board of Directors of the business or has a controlling interest in the company.
- Equal Opportunity: Suppliers are required to provide equal opportunity in hiring, remuneration and all other aspects of employment. Suppliers must comply with all aspects of the Equality Act 2010 and strictly prohibited from direct or indirect discrimination on the basis of age, disability, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, gender reassignment, pregnancy/maternity and marriage/civil partnership.
- Criminal Activity: Suppliers are prohibited from engaging in any criminal activity.
- Human Rights: Suppliers must abide by all Human Rights laws and regulations, including but not limited to forced labour or child labour. Suppliers must ensure there is no forced labour within their business.
- Child Labour: Suppliers are prohibited from the use of child labour, defined as any full time work performed by children less than 15 years of age. Children under 18 years of age are prohibited from engaging in any form of hazardous work by the supplier.
- Health and Safety: Suppliers must provide a safe and healthy working environment for all employees in compliance with health and safety regulations, in order to preserve the health of employees and prevent accidents, injuries and work related illnesses. There must be no ill treatment of workers in the form of physical violence or verbal abuse or any means of harassment and intimidation. Working premises must have open access to clean toilet facilities and a clean supply of water.
- Wages and Benefits: Suppliers must pay employees at least the minimum legal wage and must provide all legally mandated benefits. Any deductions from wages will not be permitted without the express consent of the employee. All workers shall be provided with written information about their employment conditions in relation to salary and particulars of salary payments in the respective pay period.
- Working Hours: Suppliers must comply with national laws and not enforce employees to work excessive hours. Employees under the age of 18 must not work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours per week. Employees will not be required to work in excess of 48 hours per week on average and must have regular breaks and appropriate time off work in accordance with national laws.
- Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining: Suppliers shall allow employees to associate, organise and bargain collectively in a lawful and peaceful manner with no adverse consequences with the right to join trade unions of their own choice.
- Environmental/Product Safety: Suppliers must provide environmentally-sound products and services to Scholastic. All products and materials that come in contact with end-users must be manufactured from non-toxic materials. All products provided to Scholastic must meet product safety requirements as governed by laws in the countries where the product is sold.
- Data Protection: Suppliers should not use or disclose any information belonging to the Company, the Companies’ existing and prospective customers, other suppliers, employees or other third parties, except as required or authorised with consent by the Company.
- Anti-Bribery: Suppliers must ensure they comply with all aspects of the Anti-Bribery Act 2010 where they do not pay or receive a bribe with the intention of obtaining or retaining either business or a business advantage for that organisation.
- Modern Slavery: Suppliers must ensure they comply with all aspects of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and carry out an ongoing risk assessment of Modern Slavery within all its workforce as well as its supply chains.
All suppliers are required to adhere to this policy. Failure to do so may result in contract termination. If the supplier is proposing to work with Scholastic, violation or non-compliance of this policy may result in elimination of consideration to undertake the suppliers’ service.
Scholastic employees or their representatives may make unannounced inspections of supplier premises to ensure the requirements of the code are being met.