Brandplus Sdn Bhd is committed to establish this Code of Conduct to ensure that our company and our supply chain are safe, workers are treated with respect and dignity, and our business operations are environmentally responsible, to meet social responsibilities and to achieve success in the market place with continual improvement activities.
The Code is made up of five sections. Sections A, B, and C outline standards for Labour, Health and Safety, and the Environment, respectively. Section D adds standards relating to business ethics. Section E outlines the elements of an acceptable system to manage conformity to this Code.
Brandplus Sdn Bhd are committed to uphold the human rights of employees, and to treat them with dignity and respect. This applies to all workers regardless their role or seniority. The recognized standards, as set out in the References, were used in preparing the Code and may be useful sources of additional information.
The labour standards are:
Forced, bonded (including debt bondage) or indentured labour, involuntary or exploitative prison labour, slavery or trafficking of persons is not permitted. This includes transporting, harbouring, recruiting, transferring, or receiving persons by means of threat, force, coercion, abduction or fraud for labour or services. There shall be no unreasonable restrictions on workers’ freedom of movement in the facility in addition to unreasonable restrictions on entering or exiting company- provided facilities including, if applicable, workers’ dormitories or living quarters.
As part of the hiring process, all workers must be provided with a written employment agreement in their native language that contains a description of terms and conditions of employment. Foreign workers must receive the employment agreement prior to the worker departing from his or her country of origin and there shall be no substitution or change(s) allowed in the employment agreement upon arrival in the receiving country unless these changes are made to meet local law and provide equal or better terms.
All work must be voluntary, and workers shall be free to leave work at any time or terminate their employment without penalty if reasonable notice is given as per worker’s contract. Employers, agents, and sub-agents’ may not hold or otherwise destroy, conceal, or confiscate identity or immigration documents, such as government-issued identification, passports, or work permits. Employers can only hold documentation if such holdings are required by law. In this case, at no time should workers be denied access to their documents. Workers shall not be required to pay employers’ agents or sub-agents’ recruitment fees or other related fees for their employment. If any such fees are found to have been paid by workers, such fees shall be repaid to the worker.
Child labour is not to be used in any stage of manufacturing. The term “child” refers to any person under the age of 15, or under the age for completing compulsory education, or under the minimum age for employment in the country, whichever is greatest.
Workers under the age of 18 shall not perform work that is likely to jeopardize their health or safety, including night shifts and overtime.
Working hours are not to exceed the maximum set by local law. All overtime must be voluntary. Workers shall be allowed at least one day off every seven days.
Compensation paid to workers shall comply with all applicable wage laws, including those relating to minimum wages, overtime hours and legally mandated benefits. In compliance with local laws, workers shall be compensated for overtime at pay rates greater than regular hourly rates. Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted. For each pay period, workers shall be provided with a timely and understandable wage statement that includes sufficient information to verify accurate compensation for work performed.
There is to be no harsh or inhumane treatment including violence, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion, bullying, public shaming, or verbal abuse of workers; nor is there to be the threat of any such treatment. Disciplinary procedures in support of these requirements shall be clearly defined and communicated to workers.
Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers should be committed to a workplace free of harassment and unlawful discrimination. Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers shall not engage in discrimination or harassment based on race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity or national origin, disability, pregnancy, religion, political affiliation, union membership, covered veteran status, protected genetic information or marital status in hiring and employment practices such as wages, promotions, rewards, and access to training. Workers shall be provided with reasonable accommodation for religious practices. In addition, workers or potential workers should not be subjected to medical tests, including pregnancy or virginity tests, or physical exams that could be used in a discriminatory way.
In conformance with local law, Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers shall respect the right of all workers to form and join trade unions of their own choosing, to bargain collectively, and to engage in peaceful assembly as well as respect the right of workers to refrain from such activities. Workers and/or their representatives shall be able to openly communicate and share ideas and concerns with management regarding working conditions and management practices without fear of discrimination, reprisal, intimidation, or harassment.
Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers recognize that in addition to minimizing the incidence of work-related injury and illness, a safe and healthy work environment enhances the quality of products and services, consistency of production and worker retention and morale. Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers also recognize that ongoing worker input and education are essential to identifying and solving health and safety issues in the workplace.
Recognized management systems such as ISO 45001 and Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 were used as references in preparing the Code and may be useful sources of additional information.
The health and safety standards are:
Worker potential for exposure to health and safety hazards (chemical, electrical and other energy sources, fire, vehicles, and fall hazards, etc.) are to be identified and assessed, mitigated using the Hierarchy of Controls, which includes eliminating the hazard, substituting processes or materials, controlling through proper design, implementing engineering and administrative controls, preventative maintenance and safe work procedures (including lockout/tagout), and providing ongoing occupational health and safety training. Where hazards cannot be adequately controlled by these means, workers are to be provided with appropriate, well-maintained, personal protective equipment, and educational materials about risks to them associated with these hazards. Reasonable steps must also be taken to remove pregnant women and ‘nursing mothers from working conditions with high hazards, remove or reduce any workplace health and safety risks to pregnant women and nursing mothers, including those associated with their work assignments, and provide reasonable accommodations for nursing mothers.
Potential emergency situations and events are to be identified and assessed, and their impact minimized by implementing emergency plans and response procedures including emergency reporting, employee notification and evacuation procedures, worker training, and drills. Emergency drills must be executed at least annually or as required by local law, whichever is more stringent. Emergency plans should also include appropriate fire detection and suppression equipment, clear and unobstructed egress, adequate exit facilities, contact information for emergency responders, and recovery plans. Such plans and procedures shall focus on minimizing harm to life, the environment, and property.
Procedures and systems are to be in place to prevent, manage, track and report occupational injury and illness, including provisions to encourage worker reporting, classify and record injury and illness cases, provide necessary medical treatment, investigate cases and implement corrective actions to eliminate their causes, and facilitate the return of workers to work.
Worker exposure to chemical, biological, and physical agents is to be identified, evaluated, and controlled according to the Hierarchy of Controls. If any potential hazards were identified, participants shall look for opportunities to eliminate and/or reduce the potential hazards. If elimination or reduction of the hazards is not feasible, potential hazards are to be controlled through proper design, engineering, and administrative controls. When hazards cannot be adequately controlled by such means, workers are to be provided with and use appropriate, well-maintained, personal protective equipment free of charge. Protective programs shall be ongoing and include educational materials about the risks associated with these hazards.
Worker exposure to the hazards of physically demanding tasks, including manual material handling and heavy or repetitive lifting, prolonged standing, and highly repetitive or forceful assembly tasks is to be identified, evaluated, and controlled.
Production and other machinery shall be evaluated for safety hazards. Physical guards, interlocks, and barriers are to be provided and properly maintained where machinery presents an injury hazard to workers.
Workers are to be provided with ready access to clean toilet facilities, potable water and sanitary food preparation, storage, and eating facilities. Worker dormitories provided by Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers are to be maintained to be clean and safe, and provided with appropriate emergency egress, drinking water supply, adequate lighting and ventilation, individually secured accommodations for storing personal and valuable items, and reasonable personal space along with reasonable entry and exit privileges.
Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers shall provide workers with appropriate workplace health and safety information and training in the language of the worker or in a language the worker can understand for all identified workplace hazards that workers are exposed to, including but not limited to mechanical, electrical, chemical, fire, and physical hazards. Health and safety related information shall be clearly posted in the facility or placed in a location identifiable and accessible by workers. Training is provided to all workers prior to the beginning of work and regularly thereafter. Workers shall be encouraged to raise any health and safety concerns without retaliation.
Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers recognize that environmental responsibility is integral to producing world-class products. Brandplus Sdn Bhd shall identify the environmental impacts and minimize adverse effects on the community, environment, and natural resources within their manufacturing operations, while safeguarding the health and safety of the public. Recognized management systems such as ISO 14001 and the Environmental Quality Act 1974 were used as references in preparing the Code and may be a useful source of additional information.
The environmental standards are:
All required environmental permits (e.g. discharge monitoring), approvals, and registrations are to be obtained, maintained, and kept current and their operational and reporting requirements are to be followed.
Emissions and discharges of pollutants and generation of waste are to be minimized or eliminated at the source or by practices such as adding pollution control equipment; modifying production, maintenance, and facility processes; or by other means. The use of natural resources, including water, fossil fuels, minerals, and virgin forest products, is to be conserved by practices such as modifying production, maintenance and facility processes, materials substitution, re-use, conservation, recycling, or other means.
Chemicals, waste, and other materials posing a hazard to humans, or the environment are to be identified, labelled, and managed to ensure their safe handling, movement, storage, use, recycling or reuse, and disposal.
Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers shall implement a systematic approach to identify, manage, reduce, and responsibly dispose of or recycle solid waste (non-hazardous).
Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers are to adhere to all applicable laws, regulations, and customer requirements regarding the prohibition or restriction of specific substances in products and manufacturing.
To meet social responsibilities and to achieve success in the marketplace, Brandplus Sdn Bhd and their suppliers are to uphold the highest standards of ethics including:
The highest standards of integrity are to be upheld in all business interactions. Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers shall have a zero-tolerance policy to prohibit any and all forms of bribery, corruption, extortion and embezzlement.
Bribes or other means of obtaining undue or improper advantage are not to be promised, offered, authorized, given, or accepted. This prohibition covers promising, offering, authorizing, giving or accepting anything of value, either directly or indirectly through a third party, in order to obtain or retain business, direct business to any person, or otherwise gain an improper advantage.
All business dealings should be transparently performed and accurately reflected on the Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers’ business books and records. Information regarding Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers’ labour, health and safety, environmental practices, business activities, structure, financial situation, and performance is to be disclosed in accordance with applicable regulations and prevailing industry practices. Falsification of records or misrepresentation of conditions or practices in the supply chain are unacceptable.
Intellectual property rights are to be respected, transfer of technology and know-how is to be done in a manner that protects intellectual property rights, and customer and supplier information is to be safeguarded.
Standards of fair business, advertising, and competition are to be upheld.
Programs that ensure the confidentiality, anonymity, and protection of supplier and employee whistleblowers are to be maintained, unless prohibited by law. Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers should have a communicated process for their personnel to be able to raise any concerns without fear of retaliation.
Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers shall adopt a policy and exercise due diligence on the source and chain of custody of the tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold in the products they manufacture to reasonably assure that they are sourced in a way consistent with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas or an equivalent and recognized due diligence framework.
Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers are committed to protecting the reasonable privacy expectations of personal information of everyone they do business with, including suppliers, customers, consumers, and employees. Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers are to comply with privacy and information security laws and regulatory requirements when personal information is collected, stored, processed, transmitted, and shared.
Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers shall adopt or establish a management system with a scope that is related to the content of this Code. The management system shall be designed to ensure:
(a)compliance with applicablelaws, regulations and customer requirements;
(b) conformance with this Code; and
(c) identification and mitigation of operational risks related to thisCode. It should also facilitate continual improvement.
The management system should contain the following elements:
Corporate social and environmental responsibility policy statements affirming Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers’ commitment to compliance and continual improvement, and posted in the facility.
Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers clearly identifies senior executive and company representative(s) responsible for ensuring implementation of the management systems and associated programs. Senior management reviews the status of the management systems on a regular basis.
A process to identify, monitor and understand applicable laws, regulations, and customer requirements, including the requirements of this Code.
A process to identify the legal compliance, environmental, health and safety and labor practice and ethics risks associated with Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers’ operations. Determination of the relative significance for each risk and implementation of appropriate procedural and physical controls to control the identified risks and ensure regulatory compliance.
Written performance objectives, targets and implementation plans to improve the Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers’ social, environmental, and health and safety performance, including a periodic assessment of Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers’ performance in achieving those objectives.
Programs for workers to implement Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers’ policies, procedures, and improvement objectives and to meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
A process for communicating clear and accurate information about Brandplus Sdn Bhd and its suppliers’ policies, practices, expectations, and performance to workers, suppliers, and customers.
Ongoing processes, including an effective grievance mechanism, to assess workers’ understanding of and obtain feedback on or violations against practices and conditions covered by this Code and to foster continuous improvement. Workers must be given a safe environment to provide grievance and feedback without fear of reprisal or retaliation.
Periodic self-evaluations to ensure conformity to legal and regulatory requirements, the content of the Code, and customer contractual requirements related to social and environmental responsibility.
A process for timely correction of deficiencies identified by internal or external assessments, inspections, investigations, and reviews.
Creation and maintenance of documents and records to ensure regulatory compliance and conformity to company requirements along with appropriate confidentiality to protect privacy.
A process to communicate Code requirements to suppliers and to monitor supplier compliance to this code. For suppliers that appointed by customer, this code shall be supersede.
