Supply chain code of conduct

The BCKR Supplier Code of Conduct (“Code”) outlines our standards for upholding workers’ rights in the factories that manufacture our products and the materials used in construction of those products, along with our expectations for responsible business practices throughout all aspects of our supply chain. Our Code is based on the Fair Labor Association (“FLA”) Fair Labor Code, which is in turn based on the International Labour Organization standards and internationally recognized human rights. We are committed to upholding these workplace standards in our global supply chains to protect workers and help ensure our partner factories are fair, safe, and healthy places to work. 

Our Code provides a framework to evaluate current and potential supply chain partners. We are committed to applying the standards of this Code across all aspects of our supply chain, including agents, raw material suppliers and subcontractors. Every BCKR supplier must meet or exceed the standards as outlined in this Code and permit regular independent monitoring. Our intention is to evaluate supplier compliance fairly and consistently, in the shared pursuit of continuous improvement. If we determine a supplier is out of compliance with any of these standards, we require immediate corrective action to achieve compliance and will work in partnership with the supplier in pursuit of these standards. Partnerships based on transparency, collaboration, and the standards outlined below will be beneficial to our suppliers, their workers, and BCKR. 

Employment Relationship
Employers shall adopt and adhere to rules and conditions of employment that respect workers and, at a minimum, safeguard their rights under national and international labor and social security laws and regulations.

Nondiscrimination
No person shall be subject to any discrimination in employment, including hiring, compensation, advancement, discipline, termination or retirement, on the basis of gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, political opinion, social group or ethnic origin.

Harassment or Abuse
Every employee shall be treated with respect and dignity. No employee shall be subject to any physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse.

Forced Labor
There shall be no use of forced labor, including prison labor, indentured labor, bonded labor or other forms of forced labor.

Child Labor
No person shall be employed under the age of 15 or under the age for completion of compulsory education, whichever is higher.

Freedom of Association & Collective Bargaining
Employers shall recognize and respect the right of employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Health, Safety, & Environment
Employers shall provide a safe and healthy workplace setting to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with, or occurring in the course of work or as a result of the operation of employers’ facilities. Employers shall adopt responsible measures to mitigate negative impacts that the workplace has on the environment.

Hours of Work
Employers shall not require workers to work more than the regular and overtime hours allowed by the law of the country where the workers are employed. The regular work week shall not exceed 48 hours. Employers shall allow workers at least 24 consecutive hours of rest in every seven-day period. All overtime work shall be consensual. Employers shall not request overtime on a regular basis and shall compensate all overtime work at a premium rate. Other than in exceptional circumstances, the sum of regular and overtime hours in a week shall not exceed 60 hours.

Compensation
Every worker has a right to compensation for a regular work week that is sufficient to meet the worker’s basic needs and provide some discretionary income. Employers shall pay at least the minimum wage or the appropriate prevailing wage, whichever is higher, comply with all legal requirements on wages, and provide any benefits required by law or contract. Where compensation does not meet workers’ basic needs and provide some discretionary income, each employer shall work with the FLA to take appropriate actions that seek to progressively realize a level of compensation that does.

Ethical Business Conduct and Integrity
We engage in legal business practices taking account of fair competition, intellectual property rights of third parties as well as antitrust and competition rules. We reject all forms of corruption and bribery and promote principles of responsible business management such as accountability, responsibility, openness, and integrity. Business partners should be treated fairly. Contracts should be complied with insofar as the framework conditions do not change fundamentally. Ethical values and principles should be respected; this applies without fail for human dignity and internationally recognized human rights.

Transparency
Suppliers must be fully transparent when submitting to onsite inspections as well as maintain all accurate documentation necessary for demonstrating compliance with the Code. This includes full access to production facilities, employee records and employees for confidential interviews.

Remediation & Continuous Improvement
All suppliers are expected to take the necessary corrective actions to promptly remediate any noncompliance and strive for continuous improvement. BCKR  reserves the right to terminate business relationships with any supplier who is unwilling or unable to comply with the Code.

Traceability and Material Sourcing
Suppliers must use only designated suppliers for raw materials and components to maintain supply chain transparency. Prior written approval must be obtained before any portion of the product is vendor-sourced or substituted. 

Animal Welfare
Suppliers must respect and commit to promoting ethical animal welfare practices with a focus on the five freedoms. This includes capture, maintaining, breeding, raising, transportation, handling, and slaughter. We believe that all such animals, while considering their species’ needs, should benefit from freedom from thirst, discomfort, pain, injury or disease, fear and distress and have the freedom to behave naturally. 

Unauthorized Subcontracting
BCKR suppliers must not engage any subcontractor to perform any work for BCKR products or components without prior written approval, and only after the subcontractor has agreed to comply with this Code.

Procedure For Complaints
Complaints or information about violations of this Code of Conduct may be reported to BCKR, at the Contact Us section of our website, at any time. Individuals filing a complaint are asked only to report information they believe to be true. All business partners guarantee that individuals filing complaints will not be subject to reprisals or disciplinary action of any kind.