PURPOSE & SCOPE
MSS India is committed to the highest standards of product quality and business integrity in its dealing with Suppliers and ensuring that working conditions in our supply chain are safe, that workers are treated with respect and dignity, and that manufacturing processes are environmentally and socially responsible.
To ensure our relationships with Suppliers meet and support these expectations, MSS India is endorsing the
Supplier Code of Conduct as documented below.
POLICY STATEMENT
Fundamental to adopting our Code is the understanding that a business, in all of its activities, must operate in full compliance with the laws, rules and regulations of the countries in which it operates. This Code encourages Suppliers to go beyond legal compliance, drawing upon internationally recognized standards, in order to advance social and environmental responsibility.
RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Process Owners who are dealing with the Suppliers from any department are responsible to follow the supplier code of conduct.
REFERENCE
SA 8000 Standard, Labour & Ethical Requirements related Acts and Rules, ISO 14001, ISO 45001
CODE
MSS India is also strongly encouraging our Suppliers to acknowledge and support our Code and seek to conform to its standards and provisions documented in detail below. In selecting qualified Suppliers MSS India will be giving preference to those that are socially and environmentally progressive.
The Code is made up of five sections. Sections A, B, and C outline standards for Labor, Health and Safety, and the Environment, respectively. Section D outlines the elements of a minimally acceptable system to manage conformity to this Code. Section E adds standards relating to business ethics.
For the purposes of this document "Supplier" means any company, corporation or other entity that sells, or seeks to sell goods or services, to MSS India including the Supplier's employees, agents and other representatives.
LABOUR
Suppliers should recognize and be committed to upholding the human rights of workers, and to treat them with dignity and respect as understood by the international community.
The labour standards are:
Freely Chosen Employment
Forced, bonded or indentured labor or involuntary prison labor is not to be used. All work will be voluntary, and workers should be free to leave upon reasonable notice.
Child Labor
Child labor is not to be used in any stage of manufacturing. The term "child" refers to any person employed under the age of 18 limits). The use of legitimate workplace apprenticeship programs, which comply with all laws and regulations, is supported.
Discrimination
There is to be no discrimination based on race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, religion, political affiliation, union membership or marital status in hiring and employment practices
such as promotions, rewards, and access to training. In addition, workers or potential workers should not be subjected to medical/pregnancy tests that could be used in a discriminatory way.
Harsh or Inhumane Treatment
There is to be no harsh and inhumane treatment, including any sexual harassment sexual abuse, corporal punishment, mental or physical coercion or verbal abuse of workers: nor is there to be the threat of any such treatment.
Minimum Wages
Compensation paid to workers shall comply with all applicable wage laws, including those relating to minimum wages, overtime hours and legally mandated benefits. Any disciplinary wage deductions are to conform to local law. The basis on which workers are being paid is to be clearly conveyed to them in a timely manner.
Working Hours
Studies of good manufacturing practices clearly link worker strain to reduced productivity, increased
turnover and increased injury and illness. Work weeks are not to exceed the maximum set by Factories fact. Further, a work week should not be more than 48 hours per week, including overtime, except in emergency or unusual situations. Workers should be allowed at least one day off per seven-day week.
Freedom of Association
Open communication and direct engagement between workers and management are the most effective ways to resolve workplace and compensation issues. Suppliers are to respect the rights of workers to associate freely and to communicate openly with management regarding working conditions without fear of reprisal, intimidation or harassment.
Health and Safety
Suppliers should recognize that the quality of products and services, consistency of production, and workers' morale are enhanced by a safe and healthy work environment. Management such as ISO 45001 on Occupational Safety and Health were used as references in preparing the Code and may be a useful source of additional information.
The health and safety standards are:
Machine Safeguarding
Physical guards, interlocks and barriers are to be provided and properly maintained for machinery used by workers.
Industrial Hygiene
Worker exposure to chemical, biological and physical agents is to be identified, evaluated, and controlled. When hazards cannot be adequately controlled by engineering and administrative means, workers are to be provided with appropriate personal protective equipment.
Safety
Worker exposure to workplace safety hazards (e.g., electrical and other energy sources, fire, vehicles, slips, trips and fall hazards) are to be controlled through proper design, engineering and administrative controls, preventative maintenance and safe work procedures Where hazards cannot be adequately controlled by these means, workers are to be provided with appropriate personal protective equipment.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Emergency situations and events are to be identified and assessed, and their impact minimized by
implementing emergency plans and response procedures, including: emergency reporting, employee notification and evacuation procedures, worker training and drills, appropriate fire detection and suppression equipment, adequate exit facilities and recovery plans.
Occupational Injury and illness
Procedures and are to be in place to manage, track and report occupational injury and illness, including provisions to: a) encourage worker reporting; b) classify and record injury and illness cases; c) provide necessary medical treatment; d) investigate cases and implement corrective actions to eliminate their causes; and d) facilitate return of workers to work.
Physically Demanding Work
Worker exposure to physically demanding tasks, including manual material handling and heavy lifting, prolonged standing and highly repetitive or forceful assembly tasks is to be identified, evaluated and controlled.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Suppliers should recognize that environmental responsibility is integral to producing world class products. In manufacturing operations, adverse effects on the environment and natural resources are to be minimized while safeguarding the health and safety of the public.
Management such as ISO 14001 may be used as references in preparing the Code and may be a useful source of additional information.
The environmental standards are:
Product Content Restrictions
Suppliers are to adhere to applicable laws and regulations regarding prohibition or restriction of specific substances including regulations for recycling and disposal. In addition, Suppliers are to adhere to all environmental requirements specified by MSS India.
Chemical and Hazardous Materials
Chemical and other materials posing a hazard if released to the environment are to be identified and managed to ensure their safe handling, movement, storage, recycling or reuse and disposal.
Compliance of RoHS, REACH is mandatory to respective supplier. Initially a testing report is required Nd declaration is mandatory at annual basis and as when any updation is there.
Conflict Mineral compliance and it’s reporting in CMRT template is mandatory for plating supplier where
3TG material, TIN plating is involved.
Wastewater and Solid Waste
Wastewater and solid waste generated from operations, industrial processes and sanitation facilities are to be monitored, controlled and treated as required prior to discharge or disposal.
Air Emissions
Air emissions of volatile organic chemicals, aerosols, corrosives, particulates, ozone depleting chemicals and combustion by-products generated from operations are to be characterized, monitored, controlled and treated as required prior to discharge.
Environmental Permits and Reporting
All required environmental permits (e.g. discharge monitoring) and registrations are to be Obtained, maintained and kept current and their operational and reporting requirements are to be followed.
Pollution Prevention and Resource Reduction
Waste of all types, including water and energy, are to be reduced or eliminated at the source or by practices such as modifying production, maintenance and facility processes, materials substitution, conservation, recycling and re-using materials.
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Suppliers must adopt or establish a management system whose scope is related to the content of this Code and proportional to a Supplier's environmental and social accountability profile. The management system shall be designed to ensure
a) Compliance with applicable laws and regulation ns;
b) Conformance with this Code; and
c) Identification and mitigation of operational risks related to this Code. It should also facilitate continual improvement.
The management system should contain the following elements:
Company Commitment
Corporate social and environmental responsibility statements that affirm the Supplier's commitment to compliance and continual improvement.
Management Accountability and Responsibility
Clearly identified company representative[s] responsible for ensuring implementation and periodic review of the status of the management.
Legal and Customer Requirements
Identification, monitoring and understanding of applicable laws, regulations and customer requirements.
Risk Assessment and Risk Management
Process to identify the environmental, health and safety1 and labor practice risks associated with
Supplier's operations. Determination of the relative significance for each risk and implementation of appropriate procedural and physical controls to ensure regulatory compliance to control the identified risks.
Performance Objectives with Implementation Plan and Measures Written standards, performance objectives, targets and implementation plans including a periodic assessment of Supplier's performance against those objectives.
Training
Programs for training managers and workers to implement Supplier's policies, procedures and improvement objectives.
Communication
Process for communicating clear and accurate information about Supplier's performance, practices and expectations to workers, suppliers and customers.
Employee Feedback and Participation
Ongoing processes to assess employees' understanding of and obtain feedback on practices and conditions covered by this Code and to foster continuous improvement.
Audits and Assessments
Periodic self-evaluations to ensure conformity to legal and regulatory requirements, the content of the
Code, and customer contractual requirements related to social and environmental responsibility.
Corrective Action Process
Process for timely correction of deficiencies identified by internal or external assessments, inspections, investigations and reviews.
Documentation and Records
Creation of documents and records to ensure regulatory compliance and conformity to company requirements along with appropriate confidentiality to protect privacy.
ETHICS
To meet social responsibilities and to achieve success in the marketplace, Suppliers and their agents are to uphold the highest standards of ethics including:
No Corruption, Extortion, or Embezzlement
The highest standards of integrity are to be expected in all business interactions. Any and all forms of corruption, extortion and embezzlement are strictly prohibited resulting in immediate termination and legal actions.
Disclosure and Privacy of Information
Means to effectively safeguard customer information regarding business activities, structure, financial situation, performance, and/or any other information deemed confidential shall be disclosed only in accordance with the guidelines specified within any agreed upon non-disclosure agreement between Supplier and MSS India and within the guidelines of all applicable laws and regulations.
No Improper Advantage
Bribes or other means of obtaining undue or improper advantage are not to be offered or accepted. No Supplier, or its representatives or employees, shall offer to any MSS India employee a kickback, favor, gratuity, entertainment or anything of value to obtain favorable treatment from MSS India. MSS India employees are similarly prohibited from soliciting such items. This prohibition extends to immediate family members of both Suppliers and MSS India employees. As long as a gift is not intended to obtain favorable treatment for the Suppliers and does not create the appearance of a bribe, kickback, payoff or irregular type of payment, MSS India employees are not prohibited from accepting the gift as per the MSS India's code of conduct.
Fair Business, Advertising and Competition
Standards of fair business, advertising and competition are to be upheld. Suppliers to MSS India shall not engage in collusive bidding, price fixing, price discrimination, or other unfair trade practices in violation applicable laws.
Community Engagement
Community engagement is encouraged to help foster social and economic development.
Protection of Intellectuel Property
Intellectual property rights are to be respected; transfer of technology and knowhow is to be done in a manner that protects intellectual property rights.
Information Security
Information shared by MSS India like Drawing, specifications, guidelines, SOP, WI etc will be used by it and its officers, directors, employees solely for execution of services, manufacturing of parts and will not be used in any way to disclose to any third parties.
After it’s intended usage, this information to be returned to MSS India. Refer “confidentiality Agreement”
for details.
Statement of acceptance – We have received a copy of the “MSS Supplier Code of Conduct” for MSS India suppliers, and hereby commit ourselves, in addition to our commitments set out in the initial agreements, NDA with MSS India to comply with its principles and requirements.
