Human Rights Policy

 Human Rights Policy 

Purpose: This template is intended for use by Jacaranda Carpets & Rugs to put in place a basic human rights policy. 

1. Background 

We at Jacaranda Carpets & Rugs believe everyone deserves to be treated equally, with dignity and respect. We are committed to protecting human rights demonstrated throughout our policies and codes. We aim to ensure that our company, wholesale suppliers, and their direct suppliers and indirect subcontracted suppliers follow international and local labour laws. 

2. Our position 

Jacaranda Carpets & Rugs states that: 

a. We will not engage in or support the use of child labour. All practices will, at a minimum, conform to ILO Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182), as well as national law. 

b. Adolescents shall not be involved in hazardous work and should benefit from education/employment plans. Hazardous work includes working with chemicals, machinery or electrics; in confined spaces, at height or in excessively hot or cold conditions; being exposed to dust, fumes or loud noise; lifting or carrying heavy loads; working overtime or working at night. 

c. All forms of forced or compulsory labor are prohibited, including bonded, imprisoned, indentured, trafficked and any other form of involuntary labor. 

d. Harsh, inhumane, or inappropriate treatment is not allowed. Physical abuse, violence, sexual or other harassment, verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation of workers, are prohibited on the work premises, including housing that is provided by the employer. 

e. No discrimination is practiced on the basis of race, colour, caste, national origin, social extraction, religion, education level, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth, disability, disease, union membership, political affiliation in recruitment, promotion, access to training, remuneration, allocation of work, or termination of employment of workers. 

f. We will comply with all other applicable labour laws, including those related to wages, hours worked, overtime and working conditions. 

g. We will ensure safe conditions for all workers. 

h. All workers have the right to join or form trade unions and to bargain collectively. The Company and its business partners respect this right and do not interfere in these processes. 

i. We expect our business partners to have and uphold similar standards and abide by country-governing laws in countries wherein they operate. 

3. Actions and Implementation 

Under this Policy, Jacaranda Carpets & Rugs commits to: 

a. Keep this written policy up-to-date to reflect relevant legislative or policy changes when appropriate.  

b. Know the full extent of our value chain and ensure there are processes to allow for regular disclosure of supply chains to the lowest level possible, including suppliers, subcontractors, intermediaries and home-based workers. 

c. Communicate the policy to our employees, our wholesale suppliers, including their direct suppliers, subcontracting units, and home-based workers. The policy will be displayed prominently in the workplace and translated if needed. 

d. Operationalise this policy through effective and relevant processes applicable throughout the Company’s value chain. 

In addition to the above, we, Jacaranda Carpets & Rugs, expect our wholesale suppliers and all entitieses that contribute to production of our products to implement the following processes: 

e. Inform home-based workers of the limita􀆟on on hours and type of work including work in which children and adolescents can be involved and make them aware of the specific dangers and hazards to children in the workplace. A no-child-labour writen commitment shall be obtained from home-based workers. 

f. Verify workers’ age upon hiring and keeping records of age verification. Ensure that ages of children living on premises of home production sites are also recorded and verifiable. 

g. Put a remediation plan in place in case child labour is discovered and collaborating with relevant stakeholders to support the child’s rehabilitation. 

h. Maintain a register of adolescents’ names and tasks performed, including of adolescents employed in household units, as well as copies of any documentation prescribed by local and national law; 

i. Ensure that legally defined light-work requirements for adolescents are respected. We will maintain records identified potential hazards, display permissible working hours and raise their awareness of health and safety issues. 

j. Ensure no sub-contractors are involved in employment of child labour, they maintain and communicate the company child labour policy, and that they respect legally defined light-work requirements for adolescents. We will demand that a remediation plan is put in place in case child labour is discovered in our subcontractors’ business. 

4. Definitions 

Forced Labour: All work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered themself voluntarily. 

Bonded Labour: The practice of requiring someone to work to pay off a loan, when the value of his or her work greatly exceeds the value of the original loan. 

Child: Any person less than 18 years of age. 

Child Labour: Any work or economic activity that is harmful to the health or development of a child or would prejudice their attendance at school, vocational/training programs, or their capacity to benefit from the instruction received. It also includes the sale and trafficking of children and all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery of children. 

Child Work: The participation of children in an economic activity, which is not detrimental to their health or mental and physical development and does not interfere with their schooling, often carried out under the guidance of parents or guardians. Child work is light work performed within the family and generally considered positive, in contrast to child labour, and is permited from the age of 12 years of age. 

Hazardous Work: Any work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of the workers. 

Home-based worker: A person who carries out work in his or her home or in other premises of their choice other than the workplace of the employer or subcontractor. Home-based workers are generally employed by contractors and are dependent on others for their work. 

Rehabilitation: The process of providing all necessary assistance to a rescued child or adolescent, including medical, psychological, social, educational and economic assistance for her or his education, training and protection. It may also include economic rehabilitation of the family. 

Remediation: All corrective actions to support rehabilitation, including physical and mental well-being. 

Adolescent Worker: Child or youth under the age of 18 who is above the statutory minimum age for employment. 

Contact: For further information please contact: LUCY MEAGER, [email protected]