In cooperation with our factories, suppliers and service providers, we expect everyone to respect human rights, ensure occupational health and safety, and follow all social standards set out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), as well as any additional regulations and laws applicable in the respective countries. Since 2009, Halfar System has been a member of amfori BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative), a major European company initiative to improve working conditions in global supply chains. A central pillar in this context is the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct, which all members agree to abide by. It is available in several languages and based on international labour standards to protect workers’ rights as defined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations (UN) Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The code lists 11 core labour rights that the initiative’s participants are encouraged to implement, including in their supply chain.
Compliance
Ethical principles, human rights and responsibility in the supply chain
Halfar System sees itself as part of a changing global economy. This opens up opportunities, but also increases the level of complexity in the supply chain, making it all the more important for us to create clarity and recognise risks. As a socially responsible company, Halfar System is committed to upholding human rights and safeguarding the health of its employees. Production takes place at various locations depending on the task, objective and scope, with a particular focus on European and Asian production sites.
Securing human rights and labour protection
Compliance with social and quality standards
Regardless of the certification status, our suppliers confirm their compliance with the principles and values of the amfori BSCI by signing the code of conduct (CoC). Our partners are committed to ensuring that all stakeholders in the supply chain, including raw material suppliers and subcontractors, confirm, implement and respect the content of the code of conduct. In the course of visits and audits, we check compliance either ourselves or through third-party service providers to support factories in high-risk countries with amfori BSCI business audits. This ensures that our suppliers comply with the applicable laws and do not create precarious employmenst relationships. It also allows us to determine whether the quality assurance measures and social standards are implemented in line with requirements. To achieve this, our direct suppliers must contractually commit to allowing Halfar System or an independent auditor appointed by us to carry out audits at their facility and, if necessary, at any subcontractors’ sites. The results of the audits as well as other key figures are taken into account in a supplier evaluation. In addition to evaluating the facilities, we also conduct a risk assessment for the respective production countries in line with the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG). Our management system (DIN ISO 9001:2015) allows us to assess the risks that can potentially disrupt or otherwise affect our supply chain. This proactive approach allows us as a company to take appropriate measures to mitigate or avoid risk. We achieve this by strategically managing our supplier base, implementing safety standards and developing contingency plans.
Monitoring and remedial measures
Through regular monitoring and the implementation of specific remedial measures, major infringements can usually be prevented. Beyond that, understanding deviations allows us to initiate targeted further measures such as employee training or process improvements. This is how we ensure that any corrections are effective and result in sustainable improvements. These monitoring and remedial measures help to strengthen the integrity of our supply chain and ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards.
Corruption, conflicts of interest and gifts
In everyday business life, an employee may get into a conflict that mixes business and private interests, making it difficult to make decisions in the company’s best interests. Halfar employees are committed to avoiding any undue influence on their business decisions through gifts or other benefits. This means that any gifts and other benefits that go beyond the usual scope should not be accepted. If Halfar employees are affected by a conflict of interest or aware of infringements of agreed rules, the appropriate line manager or supervisor must be informed immediately in order to find a swift solution. Any conflicts or concerns regarding operations within the company may (and should) also be addressed openly and without reservation. Various channels are available for Halfar employees to do this, either directly or anonymously.
Whistleblowing channel for misconduct
In the event that any misconduct does occur within the supply chain, we have set up a dedicated whistleblowing channel to ensure that third parties can bring them to our attention. This can be accessed online. Our supplier agreements ensure that employees of the facilities that manufacture our bags are also aware of this channel and that the information is displayed locally in an accessible manner.