Code of Conduct
English (en) svenska (sv)
Codes of conduct are voluntary written requirements for an enterprise. The background to the emergence of codes of conduct is unsatisfactory working conditions for workers in importing business suppliers, especially in developing countries. The first codes of conduct in the textile and apparel industry came in the late 1990s when, among other media highlighted the use of forced and child labor among Swedish companies' subcontractors.
At first, various corporate codes of conduct were very different but today they are relatively standardized. They are usually based on the ILO (the UN specialized agency for labor issues) eight core conventions on human rights in the workplace, the UN Declaration of Human Rights, and the CRC.
A code of conduct often includes these requirements:
- The right of freedom to join unions and association
- Prohibition of child labor and forced labor
- Prohibition of discrimination
- Declaration of regulated working hours
- Proper employment contracts
- Requirements for safe working
- Requirements for proper wages
- Implementation of codes of conduct
