Ethical Trading Code of Conduct and Human Rights Policy

At Melrose Interiors, we are committed to respecting human rights throughout our business and supply chain. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and work in a safe environment. The Melrose Ethical Trading Code of Conduct sets out the standards we adhere to and expect our partners and suppliers to work towards.  The Code is based on the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code which stems from international labour and human rights law.

Melrose will only work with reputable partners, suppliers and manufacturers who are committed to working towards compliance with the standards in the ETI Base Code set out below, both within their own operations and those of their suppliers.

As well as working to implement the ETI Base Code, and in line with the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015, we are committed to addressing any incidences of modern slavery within our supply chain.  To this end, we pay special attention to the protection of foreign contract workers who may be potentially vulnerable to exploitation. Melrose aims to ensure that all foreign workers retain passports, ID Cards, bankcards and similar documents to facilitate their unhindered freedom of movement, and we expect all of our suppliers and partners to follow this policy within their own operations and their own supply chains.

A process of self-evaluation, independent audit and training is in place to verify that all of our suppliers meet acceptable standards and are working towards continuous improvement, and ultimately towards full compliance with the ETI Base Code and the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015.

This Code is reviewed on an annual basis and is the responsibility of the Managing Director, Andy Murphy, and Head of Operations, Kevin Davey. Kevin is specifically tasked with keeping the senior management team advised on performance and ensuring that suitable support is available to the Melrose staff and external businesses.

The Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code

  1. Employment is freely chosen
  1. Freedom of Association And The Right To Collective Bargaining Are Respected
  1. Working Conditions Are Safe and Hygienic
  1. Child Labour Shall Not Be Used
  1. Living Wages Are Paid
  1. Working Hours Are Not Excessive
  1. No Discrimination is Practised
  1. Regular Employment is Provided
  1. No Harsh or Inhumane Treatment is Allowed
  1. Environmental Impact is Managed
Definitions:

Child – Any person less than 15 years of age unless local minimum age law stipulates a higher age for work or mandatory schooling, in which case the higher age shall apply.

Young person – Any worker over the age of a child as defined above and under the age of 18. Child Labour: Any work by a child or young person younger than the age(s) specified in the above definitions which does not comply with the previsions of the relevant ILO standards, and any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child’s or young person’s education, or to be harmful to the child’s or young person’s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development.

The provisions of this code constitute minimum and not maximum standards, and this code should not be used to prevent companies from exceeding these standards. Companies applying this code are expected to comply with national and other applicable law and, where the provisions of law and this Base Code address the same subject, to apply that provision which affords the greater protection.

Company Child Labour Policy (Remediation)

Melrose Interiors acknowledges occasionally that child labour can and does occur in many countries. However, Melrose does not accept child labour, and actively works actively against it.

The complexity of the child labour issue requires a consistent, long-term effort to create sustainable and broad-based solutions in order to reach our goal; that no products delivered to Melrose are produced by child labour.

Melrose respects different cultures and values in countries where we operate and source our raw materials and products but does not compromise on the basic requirements regarding the Rights of the Child.

The Melrose Child Labour Policy (remediation) has been established in order to make our companies position clear to suppliers and their co-workers, as well as any other parties. The requirements in this code of conduct are mandatory to all suppliers and their sub-contractors.

General Principle

 Melrose does not accept child labour in any form whatsoever.

Melrose supports the United Nations (U.N.) Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989).

The Melrose child labour policy is based on this Convention, which stipulates:

In addition, this policy is based on the international Labour Organisation (I.L.O) Minimum Age Convention no. 138 (1973). According to this convention, the word “Child” is defined as any person below fifteen (15) years of age, unless local minimum age law stipulates a higher age to work or mandatory schooling, in which case the higher age would apply.  If, however, the local minimum working age is set at fourteen (14) years of age in accordance with exceptions for developing countries, the lower age will apply.

The Policy also incorporates the I.LO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour no. 182 (1999).

Monitoring

 All suppliers are obliged to keep Melrose informed at all times about all places of production (including their sub-contractors). Any undisclosed production centres found would constitute a violation of this code of conduct.

The Company reserves the right to make unannounced visits at any time to all places of production (including their sub-contractors) for goods intended for supply to Melrose. We furthermore reserve the right to assign, at our sole discretion, an independent third party to conduct on-site inspections and audits in order to ensure compliance with our Child Labour Policy.

Work with our suppliers to ensure their management systems are sufficiently effective and robust to minimise the possibility of child labour being inadvertently engaged in employment.

Remediation

If child labour should be found in the supply chain of Melrose we will seek to work in partnership with the supplier and appropriately qualified organisations to develop a responsible solution that is in the best long-term interests of the children. The supplier and Melrose will agree a corrective action plan, which may comprise the following but not exhaustive actions:

Should you have any concerns regarding the use of child labour in the Melrose supply chain please contact Andy Murphy, Managing Director on andy.murphy@melroseinteriors.co.uk