CRITERIA

Exploitation of Labour

Freedom of Association & Collective Bargaining

Safe & Hygienic Working Environment

Accommodation

Child Labour

Living Wages To Be Paid

Working Hours Are Not Excessive

No Discrimination

Regular Employment

No Harsh Or Inhumane Treatment

Continual Improvement

General

Code

Law

Assess

Action Plan

Continual Improvement ..there is no law

This means that:

• This workbook should enable you to assess your production site against the Co-operative Group's Code and highlight where improvements need to be made.
• The 'Action - Making Improvements' tables are to assist you in setting targets, responsibilities and deadlines so that you can monitor your own improvements.
• However, the Co-operative Group wants to work in partnership with its suppliers on these issues and so you should feel free to discuss problems and proposed improvements with the Co-operative Group.
• These improvements need to carefully reflect your local goals and issues and the Co-operative Group will provide any support possible to develop improvements with you.
• The Co-operative Group expects its suppliers to maintain records in sufficient detail to demonstrate how the supplier is effectively complying with the Code in each of the sections covered in this workbook. These records should be available for inspection by the Co-operative Group or its agents on request.
• The Co-operative Group, or its agents, will routinely review sound sourcing systems, practice and achievements of its suppliers against the principles of their Code. This may be by site audit, potentially linked to audits reviewing quality parameters, or by other means. Any review of the supplier's application of the Code will be reported to the factory and/or the agent involved, together with, as appropriate, recommendations for improvements. These improvements may call for corrective or remedial action within defined and agreed time periods.
• Where any review highlights serious instances of failure to comply with the Code, immediate corrective action to address the issue will be required. A failure to instigate appropriate and timely action may result in termination of the Co-operative Group (CWS) Limited Supply Agreement and supply of the products involved.
• Co-operative Group (CWS) Limited will generally advise suppliers of its intention to audit any site, although Co-operative Group (CWS) Limited reserves the right to undertake unannounced audits if deemed necessary.