To demonstrate our commitment to Ethical Trading, we’re breaking down each of the 9 Base Code Principles, outlined by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) – a unique alliance of Companies, Trade Unions (TU) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), working in partnership to improve conditions for workers who provide goods to the UK & Ireland.
This week we’re focusing on ETI Base Code 5:
Living wages are paid:
5.1 Wages and benefits paid for a standard working week meet, at a minimum, national legal standards or industry benchmark standards, whichever is higher. In any event wages should always be enough to meet basic needs and to provide some discretionary income.
5.2 All workers shall be provided with written and understandable Information about their employment conditions in respect to wages before they enter employment and about the particulars of their wages for the pay period concerned each time that they are paid.
5.3 Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted nor shall any deductions from wages not provided for by national law be permitted without the expressed permission of the worker concerned. All disciplinary measures should be recorded.
Hardscape are working in partnership to improve conditions for workers who provide goods to the UK & Ireland. The ETI Base Code and ground truth process of implementation are recognised by the UK Government and the UNHRC. This provides an assurance that graduated members are diligent to the requirements of section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 in evidencing an ethical supply chain, and are operating within the Protect-Respect-Remedy framework of the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights.
Hardscape’s commitment to the ETI will never allow work as means of repayment for a loan (bonded labour) to take place and ensures all of its staff are paid fairly. Workers are not required to lodge “deposits” or identity papers with their employer and are free to leave employment after reasonable notice.
