Code of Conduct

When awarding international production contracts, DEICHMANN not only keeps an eye on quality but also social standards issues. This is of particular importance for the production in developing and threshold countries.

Binding Codes of Conduct oblige suppliers in writing to maintain specific social standards. DEICHMANN has instructed independent audit companies and buying agents to examine whether these regulations are being adhered to.

Within the scope of these regulations, DEICHMANN participates both in a project of the Association of German Retailers (AVE) and at European level in the BSCI - Programme of the Foreign Trade Association (FTA). It is the joint target to introduce and to control recognized social standards in up to 2,000 supplier companies. The initiative is accompanied by governmental and non-governmental partners, which ensures its independence. The advantage for the producers: anybody who has been examined with regard to the AVE Code will be able to offer his services to several customers, without the requirement of being audited separately by each one of them.

In addition and with respect to making long-term improvements of social standards in manufacturing companies, DEICHMANN also cooperates with other competent partners. In India, for example, the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) has been supporting the corporation’s engagement since 1999. This exertion of influence on suppliers and pre-suppliers also ensures both quality and price of DEICHMANN products.

Code of Conduct

We, the DEICHMANN Group, expect our manufacturers and their supply companies to introduce and to implement the following social and environmental standards.
In case of contradictory standards provided by national legislation, by the DEICHMANN Code of Conduct and by non-legislatory regulations, the highest standard will always apply.
The following standards represent an abbreviated version of our Code of Conduct.

1. Child labour
Employers are not permitted to employ persons below the national legal minimum age or to tolerate their employment. Under no circumstances is it allowed to employ persons under 15 years (in exceptional cases 14 years). Employers should support/provide young employees with a vocational education.

2. Forced labour
Employers are not permitted to use or tolerate forced labour, including bonded labour and prison work. 
  
3. Disciplinary measures
Employers are not permitted to use or tolerate physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse. 
  
4. Discrimination
In particular with respect to recruitment, remuneration, advanced training, promotion, termination or retirement, employers may not discriminate or tolerate any discrimination against a person because of his or her race, social class, nationality, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, membership in an association or political views.
  
5. Remuneration
Employers must ensure that at least the national minimum wage will be paid and that the paid remuneration is sufficient to cover the basic requirements of their employees. All employees have to be informed about their regular starting time, their working hours, remuneration, their leave entitlement, dismissal protection and maternity leave and protection.
  
6. Working hours
Regular working time must not exceed 48 hours per week. Employees must grant their employees at least one day off during a seven-day period. Employees may only work overtime on a voluntary basis; this overtime has to be remunerated by the employer at a premium rate. 
  
7. Freedom of Association and collective negotiations
Employers must provide their employees with the opportunity to associate and to negotiate with them.  
  
8. Health and safety
Employers are obliged to guarantee a safe, clean and healthy working environment (as well as accommodation if required). Employers must take appropriate measures to prevent accidents and damage to health, which might result in association with the work required or with operating the equipment/machinery of the employer. Clean sanitary facilities, access to clean drinking water and hygienic facilities to store food must be available to the entire workforce.

9. Environmental protection
Employers must use natural resources as efficiently as possible, handle hazardous substances in an environmentally friendly manner and properly dispose of waste and containers.
  
10. Management systems
Employers must fulfil the requirements of these standards, periodically check their implementation and regularly communicate the content of these standards to their entire workforce. Appropriate and relevant documentation to prove the adherence to these standards must be maintained. Employers have to ensure that the requirements of these standards are also properly adhered to at his supplier companies. 
  
Should you be interested in reading the full version of the Code of Conduct of the DEICHMANN Group, you can download it here.