Human Rights and Labour Conditions

Balaclava Consulting Ltd is committed to protecting the human rights of everyone who works for the company and all those who have dealings with it. As a responsible company, we support the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights that sets “common standards of achievement for all people and all Nations.”

We recognise that our responsibility for human rights and labour conditions encompasses:

• Supply chain – It is our aspiration that the working conditions throughout our supply chain meet internationally-accepted standards of human rights and working conditions.

Principles underlying this policy

This policy on human rights and labour conditions has been developed with reference to the following documents:

• The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• The 8 so-called ‘fundamental’ labour standards of the International Labour Organisation. These cover freedom of association; the right to organise and bargain collectively; use of forced labour and equality.
• The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Responsibility

We believe that everyone in our organisation is responsible for having due regard for human rights. In particular:

• The Management Team has overall responsibility for ensuring that human rights considerations are integral in the way in which existing operations and new opportunities are developed and managed.
• Managers and supervisors provide visible leadership that promote human rights as an equal priority to other business issues. They also have a responsibility for identifying abuses that occur.
• All employees are responsible for ensuring that their own actions do not impair the human rights of others. They are also encouraged to bring forward, in confidence, any concerns that they may have about human rights abuses.

Effecting action

We recognise that from time to time we will encounter challenges on human rights that are bigger than

Balaclava Consulting Ltd is able to tackle alone. Many human rights abuses are systemic in their host communities. We are therefore committed to working with other organisations that can help us implement this policy effectively over time.

Policy principles

Balaclava Consulting Ltd requires that all its supplier seek to abide by the following:

Child labour

Suppliers will not employ workers under the legal minimum age for admission to work stipulated by the laws of the countries where they work and will operate in accordance with ILO conventions No 138 on the minimum age for admission to employment and No182 on the banning of the worst forms of exploitation of child labour.

Forced labour

In accordance with ILO Conventions 29 on Forced Labour and 105 on the Abolition of Forced Labour, suppliers will not make any use of forced labour, including prison or debt-bondage labour. Suppliers will not require the lodging of deposits or identity papers, either by their operating companies or agencies providing employees.

Health and safety

Suppliers will provide a safe and healthy work environment and take all reasonable steps to prevent death or injury to anyone on their sites. Regular training to all workers on health and safety issues will be provided. All workers will have access to bathroom facilities and potable water.

Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining

We respect the principles of freedom of association and collective bargaining as defined in ILO convention No 87 on the freedom of trade unions and the protection of trade union law and No 98 on the right of organisation and collective bargaining.

Discrimination

In accordance with ILO Convention 111 on Discrimination, suppliers will not discriminate against any person based on race, caste, origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, union or political affiliation or age. Suppliers will not tolerate sexual or racial harassment or bullying.

Discipline

Suppliers will not employ, or allow to be employed, any form of corporal punishment, physical coercion or verbal abuse. Any disciplinary matter will be dealt with through proper procedures.

Working hours

Working hours in suppliers businesses, including rest days and holidays are informed by the relevant ILO conventions regarding working hours (including No1on working hours (factories); No 30 on working hours (factories and offices); No 47 on the 40-hour week; No132 on holidays with pay) and prevailing national laws.

Compensation

Wages paid for standard working hours must meet local legally-mandated minimum wage levels. However, they must also be sufficient to meet the basic needs of workers and their families. Suppliers will work with reputable local organisations to establish what a ‘living wage’ is.

Living conditions

In sites where dormitory accommodation is provided to suppliers workers they will ensure that this accommodation is of an acceptable standard of size and cleanliness; that it is appropriate to local customs and norms and that adequate facilities are provided. Suppliers will work with relevant NGOs and other partners to establish what accommodation standards are appropriate, and to ensure that this standard is achieved and maintained.

Implementation

Responsibility

Responsibility for the compliance of suppliers with this policy lies ultimately with the Senior Management Team.  Performance will be reported to the Senior Management Team by the Operations Director.