VF Corporation Contractor Terms of Engagement
July 8, 1996
VF Corporation operates under a Code of Business Conduct which sets
forth the key principles under which the Company and its worldwide
subsidiaries are required to operate. The Code of Business Conduct
states that the conduct of business with employees, customers,
consumers, suppliers and all others shall be based on an honest, fair
and equitable basis. It has been and will continue to be the Company's
policy to obey the laws of each country and to honor our obligations to
society by being an economic, intellectual, and social asset to each
community and nation in which the Company operates.
While most of the Company's products are manufactured in facilities
owned by the Company where compliance with the VF Code of Business
Conduct can be directly assured, the global expansion of our business is
resulting in our dealing more regularly with third-party contractors,
particularly in foreign countries.
The purpose of these CONTRACTOR TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT is to make clear
that, taking into account differences in cultures and legal
requirements, we expect that wherever our products are manufactured they
will be manufactured in a manner compatible with the high standards that
have contributed to the outstanding reputation of our brands and our
Company.
- ETHICAL STANDARDS
- We expect those with whom we contract for the manufacture of our
products ("VF Contractors") to operate within a set of ethical
standards compatible with VF's Code of Business Conduct.
- LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
- We expect VF Contractors to comply with the applicable laws and
regulations of the localities, states, and countries in which they
operate.
- TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES
- All VF Contractors must fairly compensate their employees, by
providing, at a minimum, wages and benefits in compliance with
applicable wage and hour laws and regulations. In selecting
contractors, we will favor those whose policies and practices place
reasonable limits on the number of hours that employees may work on
a regularly scheduled basis and who regularly pro vide reasonable
rest periods and days off.
All VF Contractors must provide their employees with a clean,
healthful and safe work environment, and, if applicable, safe and
healthy residential facilities.
We will not do business with contractors who employ children. For
this purpose, the term "child" generally refers to anyone under the
age of 14, or under the maximum age for compulsory school attendance
if that age is higher than 14, except in the case of legally
permissible apprenticeship and similar programs.
We will not knowingly do business with contractors who use prison or
other forced labor.
We will not knowingly do business with contractors who permit the
use of corporal punishment or other forms of mental or physical
intimidation or coercion.
We will favor contractors who provide equal employment opportunities
for workers based on their ability rather than on the basis of
personal character istics or religious or other beliefs.
- INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
- We will not do business with contractors who do not respect our
intellectual property rights in our brands.
- PRODUCT LABELING
- All VF Contractors must accurately label our products with their
country of origin in compliance with the laws of the United States
and those of the country of manufacture.
- MONITORING
- VF and its subsidiaries will undertake affirmative measures,
such as on-site inspection of production facilities, to monitor
compliance with the above standards. VF Contractors must allow VF
representatives full access to the contractor's production
facilities and books and records and respond promptly to reasonable
inquiries by VF representatives concerning the operations of the
contractor's facilities.
- AGENTS AND SUBCONTRACTORS
- We expect the standards set forth above to be observed by agents
we engage to assist in the selection of VF Contractors.
We do not permit subcontracting without our consent. We will not
knowingly permit VF Contractors to subcontract our work to
subcontractors who would not qualify as VF Contractors under the
above criteria.
VF CORPORATION AND ITS DIVISIONS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CANCEL
ALL CURRENT PURCHASE ORDERS WITH ANY CONTRACTOR FOUND TO BE IN
VIOLATION OF THE ABOVE STANDARDS
CONTRACTOR CERTIFICATION
I have read and fully understand VF's Contractor Terms of Engagement
and certify that we are in compliance with these terms.
Contractor's Name:
Contractor's Representative:
Date:
AMERICAN APPAREL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
(submitted by VF Corporation)
AAMA Statement of Responsibility
Members of the American Apparel Manufacturers Association (AAMA) are
committed to the fair and rational practice of business in the United
States and abroad. Basic to this commitment is the fair and equitable
treatment of employees in wages, working conditions, and benefits. In no
case do we support the use of child labor, prison labor, discrimination
based on age, race, national origin, gender, or religion, the violation
of legal or moral rights of employees, nor destruction or harm to the
environment.
The American Apparel Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has established
this Statement of Responsibility as a guideline for all member companies
for their own facilities and for the facilities where production is
contracted. AAMA represents over 70 percent of all domestic apparel
production in the United States. Members companies manufacture all types
of apparel and we are located in virtually every state in the United
States.
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