INTRODUCTION
With a globalized business structure and a wide range of international partners the Bagger-Sorensen Group works to meet ethical, social and environmental responsibilities. The purpose of this CSR code is to ensure that suppliers and partners of the Bagger-Sorensen Group will operate in accordance with local rules and regulations and if possible and feasible also internationally recognized minimum standards on labour rights, health and safety as well as environmental standards. The Bagger-Sorensen Group adheres to the principles of this CSR code and expects the same of its suppliers and partners.
Observance of the CSR code will be a part of agreements or contracts between the Bagger-Sorensen Group and its suppliers and partners.
The aim of the CSR code is to grow responsible and profitable business together with our suppliers and partners.
Scope of Application
The scope of this CSR code is all suppliers and partners of the Bagger-Sorensen Group. It is the responsibility of suppliers and partners to ensure that their sub-suppliers do not violate the standards of this code.
General Principles
The code establishes minimum standards and the Bagger-Sorensen Group will not accept any attempt to use this CSR code as a means to lower existing standards.
Legal Compliance
In addition to meeting the provisions of this CSR code, suppliers and partners shall comply with all national laws and regulations as well as other applicable standards (e.g. collective bargaining agreements or other CSR codes). Conflicts between the provisions of this CSR code and national laws or other applicable standards shall be evaluated by the Bagger-Sorensen Group in cooperation with the supplier/partner in order to establish the most appropriate course of action.
CONTENTS
Labour Rights
Forced Labour and freedom of movement
The supplier and partner must not participate in, or benefit from, any form of forced labour, including bonded labour, forced prison labour, slavery, servitude, or human trafficking. Workers must have the freedom of movement during the course of their employment.
The supplier shall refrain from retaining the identity cards, travel documents, and other important personal papers of its employees.
Child Labour and Young Workers
The supplier shall not engage in, or benefit from, the use of child labour. The minimum age for employment shall not be less than the age of completion of compulsory schooling and, in any case, shall not be less than 15 years (or 14 years where established by national laws in accordance with the ILO developing-country exception).
Where permitted by national laws, the supplier or partner may employ children between 12 and 15 to perform a few hours of light work per day. The work must be simple tasks of a limited nature and not interfere with the children’s educational responsibilities. Apprenticeship programmes for children below the minimum age of employment must be remunerated and clearly aimed at training.
The supplier/partner shall refrain from hiring young workers (below 18 years of age) to perform any type of work, which is likely to jeopardize their health, safety or morals.
Non-discrimination
The supplier/partner shall not engage in or support discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, caste, national or social origin, property, birth, union affiliation, sexual orientation, health status, family responsibilities, age, and disability or other distinguishing characteristics. Hiring, remuneration, benefits, training, advancement, discipline, termination, retirement or any other employment-related decisions shall be based on relevant and objective criteria.
Wages and benefits
The supplier/partner shall comply with legal minimum standards. Wages shall be paid in legal tender and on a regular basis. Deductions from wages shall be transparent and must never be used as a disciplinary measure.
Contracts
All workers shall be provided with a written, understandable, and legally binding labour contract or such other documentation of labour relationship as may be required by local legal standards
Leave
Employees shall be granted sick leave and maternity leave in relation to the local legal standards.
Health and Safety
Workplace Health and Safety
The supplier/partner shall ensure that its workers are offered a safe and healthy working environment, which meets the local legal standard.
The supplier shall provide its employees with the protective equipment and training necessary to perform their tasks safely.
Conditions of Employment and Work
The supplier shall protect workers from acts of physical, verbal, sexual, or psychological harassment, abuse, or threats in the workplace, whether committed by managers or fellow workers, including when determining and implementing disciplinary measures.
Corruption and Bribery
The supplier and partners shall refrain from bribing, or using any other method, to unjustly influence public officials and/or the judiciary.
Environmental Protection
The supplier/partner must strive to minimize the adverse environmental impacts of its activities, products and services through a proactive approach and responsible management of its environmental aspects (including, but not limited to):
- Use of scarce natural resources, energy and water
- Emissions to air and releases to water
- Handling of hazardous substances
- Handling of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes
- Product issues (design, packaging, transport, use and recycling/disposal)
Local legal standards in relation to environmental issues must be met.
IMPLEMENTATION
The Bagger-Sorensen Group will secure that all suppliers and partners are aware of this CSR code.
The Bagger-Sorensen Group will encourage our suppliers and partners to assess their compliance with this CSR code. Our monitoring program may consist of on-site inspections (or audits), periodic self-evaluations by suppliers/partners of their premises and those of their subcontractors and The Bagger Sorensen Group reserves the right to let an independent third party of our choice make on-site inspections to verify compliance with the requirements of this CSR code.
The frequency and intensity of supplier/partner audits will depend on - and shall be appropriate to - the scale and intensity of their operations.
The results of all monitoring will be documented in a monitor report. Where instances of non-compliance with the requirements of this CSR code are identified, the supplier or partner shall take corrective action to remedy the deficiencies as well as take measures to prevent similar problems from recurring in the future.
Approved on March 7, 2011
Bagger-Sørensen & Co. A/S
Board of Directors