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© Erop Group
2022
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© Erop Group
2022
Erop Consulting e.U., headquartered at Burggasse 25, 9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Austria, VAT-ID: ATU69287103 (hereinafter: “the Company”), provides clients with specialized high-level services as described in its General Terms and Conditions.
These Guidelines outline the Company’s expectations regarding the conduct, attitudes, and behavior of collaborators and partners in the course of business activities. They form the foundation for successful, long-term relationships between the Company and its collaborators and partners.
Sustainability standards for partners and collaborators are based on national and international regulations and conventions, such as the UN Global Compact Principles, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, relevant International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, and the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Supply Chains under the Sustainable Development Initiative. They also reflect the Company’s internal norms and values.
The aim is to maintain competitive advantage through the quality and lasting value of highly specialized services and through sustainable, responsible operations. The Company’s long-term success depends on its ability to identify risks and opportunities promptly and consistently adhere to laws, regulations, ethical principles, and voluntary commitments. High standards are set, and the Company works to ensure compliance throughout the entire value chain. Responsible conduct and business success are seen as mutually reinforcing, not mutually exclusive. This understanding is expected of all employees, partners, collaborators, and business partners, who must also communicate these principles to their own teams. Partners and collaborators may introduce additional rules as necessary.
Partners and collaborators play a crucial role in the Company’s success. Strong partnerships foster lasting, mutually beneficial business relationships. Therefore, the Company emphasizes close cooperation with its partners and collaborators. By adhering to sustainability standards, the Company acknowledges its responsibility for the economic, environmental, and social impact of its operations. The same commitment is expected of partners and collaborators, particularly concerning human rights, occupational health and safety, environmental protection, and anti-corruption.
These sustainability standards apply to all business relationships between the Company and its partners or collaborators, as relevant to the activities performed. Partners and collaborators must take all necessary steps to ensure that their own networks also meet these standards.
The Company strives for continuous improvement in the environmental compliance of its services and in reducing the use of natural resources while taking economic considerations into account. Partners and collaborators must comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations in all countries where they operate.
Environmental management is one of the Company’s main focuses; therefore, all partners and collaborators with relevant risk profiles are required to maintain an appropriate environmental management system. An active approach to environmental challenges is expected, avoiding harm to the environment and human health. Partners and collaborators facing environmental challenges must act with due diligence and careful consideration. The development and dissemination of environmentally friendly technologies are encouraged. Partners and collaborators are expected to improve the environmental performance of products and services by setting objectives and monitoring key environmental performance indicators. Impacts on the environment and employee health must be avoided or minimized in all activities across the entire lifecycle of products and services.
In all activities, the efficient use of energy, water, and raw materials, the use of renewable resources, and the minimization of harm to the environment and health are considered. Partners and collaborators must avoid the use of substances and materials harmful to the environment or human health. Environmentally acceptable, alternative, and long-term effective solutions must be identified. Partners and collaborators are required to register, declare, and, if necessary, seek approval for substances in accordance with the legal requirements of the respective market.
During product development, production, use, and subsequent recycling, as well as in other activities, waste generation must be avoided, resources reused, and remaining waste, chemicals, and wastewater disposed of safely and environmentally responsibly.
After delivery, all products and services must meet the agreed quality and safety criteria and must be safe for use if used as intended.
Respect for internationally recognized human rights is the foundation of all business relationships of the Company. Partners and collaborators are obligated to respect the rights of employees and other stakeholders and to behave in accordance with international standards.
Ban on slavery and human trafficking - Partners and collaborators reject the conscious use of forced or compulsory labor, as well as all forms of modern slavery and human trafficking. Debt bondage and forced prison labor are prohibited. Employment relationships must be voluntary, and employees can terminate them at their discretion within a reasonable notice period.
Ban on child labor and protection of young employees - Child labor is prohibited. Minimum working age must comply with national regulations. If no such regulations exist, ILO Convention C138 applies. Under this Convention, no child under 15 may be employed or work directly or indirectly, except as specified in Articles 6 and 7. Partners and collaborators must ensure that employees under 18 do not work overtime or night shifts and are protected from working conditions harmful to their health, safety, morality, or development.
Ban on discrimination and harassment - Partners and collaborators reject all forms of discrimination and harassment and must not discriminate employees based on ethnic origin, skin color, gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, social background, age, physical or intellectual disability, marital status, pregnancy, union membership, or political opinion based on democratic principles. Employees are selected, employed, and supported based on qualifications and skills. Partners and collaborators must ensure a harassment-free work environment and promote a social environment that respects the individual. Employees must not be exposed to inhumane treatment, physical punishment, or threats.
Compensation and benefits - Compensation and benefits for a regular work week must at least meet the legally mandated minimum standards. If no regulations or collective agreements exist, compensation should align with industry norms and local standards to ensure an adequate standard of living for employees and their families.
Working hours – Partners and collaborators must ensure working hours comply with national laws or relevant sector standards. If no standards exist, ILO standards apply: maximum 48 hours per week with at least 24 consecutive hours of rest every seven days. Overtime is limited to 12 hours per week in temporary or emergency situations.
Health, safety, and fire protection - Partners and collaborators must comply with national health, safety, and fire protection laws. All protective measures must be provided free of charge (ILO Convention 155). Procedures must be in place to continuously reduce workplace hazards and improve health, safety, and fire protection.
Partners and collaborators are obligated to inform employees about identified hazards and preventive/corrective measures in relevant languages; provide training on occupational health, accident prevention, first aid, chemical management, and fire protection; supply protective equipment and clothing free of charge; install fire protection equipment such as detectors and extinguishers; monitor hazards and protective measures; label chemicals per GHS or local CLP regulations and store them legally; ensure emergency plans, fire equipment, and medical supplies are available and provide evacuation routes and assembly points. In case of accidents, first aid must be provided according to local regulations.
Work and living conditions - Business partners must provide sanitary facilities and drinking water, maintaining hygiene for food preparation, consumption, and storage. Dormitories must be safe, clean, and provide adequate space if required.
Freedom of association - All employees have the right to form or join unions and workers’ councils. In countries where laws restrict this, alternative legal means of participation must be provided.
The Company and its partners and collaborators are guided by integrity when choosing and conducting business relationships. The Company performs integrity checks based on partner and collaborator risk. Partners and collaborators act fairly, protecting the Company’s reputation, and maintain relationships only with verified partners who comply with laws and regulations. They take corrective measures to address and prevent violations.
Avoidance of conflicts of interest - Partners and collaborators make decisions solely on objective criteria without influence from financial or personal interests.
Ban on corruption - The Company and its partners and collaborators do not tolerate corruption and take measures against it. Partners must prevent all forms of corruption, including payments to officials to expedite actions. They must ensure that no bribes, commissions, facilitation payments, prohibited donations, or other illicit benefits are given or accepted by anyone in the business relationship.
Free market competition – The Company expects partners to comply with competition and anti-monopoly laws. They must not enter anti-competitive agreements with competitors, suppliers, customers, or other third parties, and must not abuse market dominance. Sensitive information and behavior that could limit competition must be avoided.
Import and export control - Partners must comply with all relevant import/export laws for goods, services, and information, including sanctions lists.
Money laundering – Partners must comply with all anti-money laundering regulations.
Confidential information protection – Partners must use and protect information appropriately, handling data according to its classification. Sensitive data must be collected, processed, stored, and deleted properly, and employees must maintain confidentiality. Confidential content must not be shared or published without proper authorization.
Personal data of employees, clients, or business partners must comply with applicable data protection laws.
The Company expects sustainability values to be integrated into daily business through structured and competent management of partners and collaborators. Management must identify and assess legal and other requirements and train employees to ensure compliance.
Documentation - Where legally required, partners must maintain records to demonstrate compliance, including permits and licenses.
Training – Partners will develop training programs to define guidelines, implement processes, and transfer expectations to employees, ensuring continuous education and compliance.
Responsibility - The Company recommends appointing a sustainability officer to develop and implement goals and measures, ensuring compliance with the Code of Conduct.
Non-compliance actions – Employees must be able to report deviations from expectations, and partners must address them promptly and effectively without extra costs to the Company.
The Company reserves the right to verify compliance using appropriate means, including questionnaires or on-site expert inspections, conducted with prior notice and in the presence of partner representatives during normal working hours, in accordance with local laws. On-site audits may also occur before starting a business relationship and will be binding for contracts. Any non-compliance must be addressed promptly.
Non-compliance must be identified, addressed, and corrected immediately to protect the Company, employees, and partners. A system must be in place for confidential, professional handling of reports, potentially involving external experts bound by confidentiality.
Compliance with this document is critical for business relationships. The Company may take legal action if partners fail to meet expectations. If credible evidence shows corrective measures were implemented to prevent future breaches, the Company decides on alternative measures. Individual agreements may override principles in this document where specified.