Partnership Guidelines Confirmation

Sherpani Partnership Guidelines Confirmation

The section below must be completed by the Factory Owner or General Manager.

This is to confirm that I have read and agree to adhere to the terms of the Sherpani Partnership Guidelines.

Sherpani requires all manufacturers and factories to be transparent and cooperative in all areas of business including social responsibility.

Transparency and Continuous Improvement are the foundation of our relationship with manufacturers and factories.

At Sherpani, we recognize that our success is based on the quality of our relationships with customers, employees, agents, suppliers, and communities. To maintain the high caliber of these relationships and to achieve our goal of always providing the best value product in the most equitable manner, we have established standards for our business Suppliers.

 In communicating these guidelines, we hope to identify potential Suppliers who share our commitment to quality products, quality business principles and quality community relationships.

We will only engage business Suppliers who demonstrate a commitment to contribute to the improvement of working conditions and strive to meet our requirements stated in the Sherpani Partnership Guidelines.

 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Sherpani expects all its business suppliers (“suppliers” as used in these Partnership Guidelines must include all agents, vendors, manufacturers, factories and subcontractors) to comply with all applicable laws and regulations of the United States, and those of the respective country of manufacture or exportation, including, but not limited to, the Fair Labor Standards Act (Department of Labor Monitoring Guide). All products must be accurately labeled and clearly identified as to their country of origin and content.

CHANGE OF CONTROL:

2. Suppliers must notify Sherpani in writing if ownership, location, sale or purchase of any factory which houses Sherpani production changes. All of the above requires the factory to undergo the New Supplier set up process.

SUBCONTRACTING:

3. Suppliers must not subcontract any portion of the manufacturing process prior to production without written approval. As a condition of approval, subcontractors must agree to comply with the Partnership Guidelines.

DOCUMENTATION & INSPECTION:

4. Sherpani will review and may terminate its relationship with any supplier who is unwilling or unable to comply with the Partnership Guidelines. Sherpani monitors compliance with our Partnership Guidelines and undertakes onsite inspections of suppliers' factories. Factories must be transparent and maintain all accurate documentation on file. Factories must authorize Sherpani representatives and designated third party monitors to engage in announced and unannounced monitoring activities to ensure compliance, including confidential worker interviews.

ANTI-CORRUPTION:

5. Sherpani expects all of its suppliers to comply with all applicable laws relating to bribery, money laundering and/or corruption, including, but not limited to, the Foreign Corruption Practices Act (FCPA) and the U.K. Bribery Act (Anti-corruption Laws). Suppliers must further have and maintain policies, programs, trainings, and record-keeping practices in place to comply with all applicable Anti-corruption Laws and prevent unlawful payments made for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. If requested, suppliers must provide Sherpani with reasonable assistance to perform any activities required by any government or agency in a relevant jurisdiction for the purpose of anti-corruption compliance.

CUSTOMS COMPLIANCE:

6. Suppliers will comply with U. and Canada Customs importing laws and, in particular, will establish programs and maintain documentation to support country of origin production verification and preferential trade claims. Suppliers will comply with international supply chain security requirements and criteria per U.S. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) and Canada Partners In Protection (PIP). Suppliers are subject to audits and corrective action plans as applicable.

CHILD LABOR:

7. Factories will not employ anyone under the age of 15, or established by applicable law in the country of the manufacturer, or completing compulsory education. Factories must not expose anyone under the age of 18 to situations that are hazardous, unsafe or unhealthy, and will provide adequate protection from exposure to such conditions and materials.

FORCED LABOR:

8. Sherpani will not conduct business with any factory that uses involuntary labor of any kind; including prison labor, indentured labor, bonded labor, or labor obtained through human trafficking or slavery. Workers must not be required to lodge “deposits” or identity papers upon commencing employment with the company.

HARASSMENT & ABUSE:

9. Factories must treat every worker with dignity and respect. Workers must not be subject to physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse. Factories must not use monetary fines as a disciplinary practice. Furthermore, workers must be free to voice concerns to Sherpani or Sherpani appointed staff, without fear of retaliation by factory management.

WAGES & BENEFITS:

10. Wages, overtime and legally mandated benefits must be paid regularly, on time, with documentation and in accordance to applicable laws. Employers must pay at least the minimum wage, the industry wage or the wage negotiated in a collective agreement, whichever is higher.

HOURS & OVERTIME: 

11. Factories must not regularly exceed daily, weekly, or combined total working hour limits established by local law or the Sherpani Partnership Guidelines, whichever is lower. All overtime work must be voluntary and at a compensated rate per local law. Workers should be allowed one day off in seven.

HEALTH & SAFETY:

12. Factories must provide safe and healthy working conditions. This includes written standards that comply with local laws or Sherpani Partnership Guidelines, whichever is stricter.

NON-DISCRIMINATION:

13. Factories must not discriminate in employment practices including recruiting, hiring and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds, regardless of sex; race; color; national origin; religion; age; marital status; pregnancy; physical or mental disability; sexual orientation; gender identity or any other basis protected by local law.

 FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION:

14. Factories will respect workers’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

ENVIRONMENT:

15. Factories must comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations in the country of operation. In addition, factories must have policies and procedures in place to manage and minimize environmental impacts to energy, air, emissions, water and safely store, prevent or mitigate catastrophic releases of chemicals and hazardous materials.

CONFLICT MINERALS & THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS:

16. Suppliers must comply with applicable laws and regulations relating to responsible sourcing, including the sourcing of Conflict Minerals and diamonds. Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act relates to the responsible sourcing of Conflict Minerals, which include: tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (collectively, “3TG”) mined in conditions of armed conflict and human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) or its adjoining countries. Under Section 1502, applicable suppliers must confirm the source of 3TG used in their products. The Kimberley Process resolutions relate to the responsible sourcing of diamonds and require that where the seller guarantees that diamonds are conflict-free, this must be based on personal knowledge or a written guarantee provided by the supplier of the diamonds, and stated on all invoices. Sherpani expects all of its suppliers to share its commitment to responsible sourcing and requires suppliers to adhere to all responsible sourcing regulatory requirements

ANIMAL WELFARE:

17. Suppliers must adhere to codes of practice that meet or exceed International, National and State Government, and best practice standards for animal welfare.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:

18. Sherpani respects the Intellectual Property (IP) rights of others and expects the same of its suppliers. Any use of another's Intellectual Property and the transfer of proprietary information must be handled in a secure manner that protects the IP and proprietary rights of the IP owner, Sherpani and its suppliers. Suppliers agree they will not use or release Sherpani trademarks, logos, or other proprietary work of Sherpani to any other party unless preapproved in writing by Sherpani and recognizes that the receipt of such information is for the sole purpose of fulfilling its contracted services.

 I have reviewed and understand the Sherpani Partnership Guidelines:

 

 

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