CODE OF ETHICS AND RULES OF CONDUCT
- OBJECTIVE
This document was created to assist our suppliers, customers, and employees in understanding MATECMEX´s code of ethics and rules of conduct.MATECMEX provides specific rules to conserve safe working conditions, treat workers with dignity, respect, act fairly, and use environmentally responsible practices; we are committed to the highest standards of social environment responsibility, and ethical behavior, at the same way MATECMEX requires that our suppliers, customs and employees operate in accordance with this code.We do think that by publishing this document, we will help our suppliers, customers and employees to have a full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, regarding labor and human rights, health, safety, environment protection, ethics and management practices.
Additionally MATECMEX maintains detailed standards that explicitly define our expectations for compliance with this code.
1.2 LAWS, INCLUDING REGULATIONS AND OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
MATECMEX´s suppliers, customers and employee will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in locations where they conduct business.
1.3 ETHICAL DEALINGS
MATECMEX expects our suppliers, customers and employees conduct their business in accordance with the highest ethical standards. Participants must strictly comply with all laws and regulations on bribery, corruption and prohibited business practices.
So to meet social responsibilities and to achieve success in the marketplace, participants and their agents are to uphold the highest standards of ethics including:
1) Business Integrity
The highest standards of integrity are to be upheld in all business interactions. Participants (suppliers, customers and employee) shall have a zero tolerance policy to prohibit any and all forms of bribery, corruption, extortion and embezzlement. All business dealings should be transparently performed and accurately reflected on participant’s business books and records. Monitoring and enforcement procedures shall be implemented to ensure compliance with anti-corruption laws.
2) No Improper Advantage
Bribes or other means of obtaining undue or improper advantage are not to be promised, offered, authorized, given or accepted. This prohibition covers promising, offering, authorizing, giving or accepting anything of value, either directly or indirectly through a third party, in order to obtain or retain business, direct business to any person, or otherwise gain an improper advantage; MATECMEX´s Suppliers will treat all their employees, suppliers or any person with respect and will not use corporal punishment, threats of violence or other forms of physical coercion or harassment.
3) Disclosure of Information
Information regarding participant labor, health and safety, environmental practices, business activities, structure, financial situation and performance or any confidential information is to be disclosed in accordance with applicable regulations and prevailing industry practices. Falsification of records or misrepresentation of conditions or practices in the supply chain are unacceptable.
4) Intellectual Property
Intellectual property rights are to be respected; transfer of technology and know-how is to be done in a manner that protects intellectual property rights; suppliers, customer and employed information is to be safeguarded.
5) Advertising and Competition
Standards of advertising and competition are to be upheld. Appropriate means to safeguard customer information must be available.
6) Protection of Identity and Non-Retaliation
Programs that ensure the confidentiality, anonymity and protection of supplier, customers and employees whistleblowers are to be maintained, unless prohibited by law. Participants should have a communicated process for their personnel to be able to raise any concerns without fear of retaliation.
7) Privacy
Participants are to commit to protecting the reasonable privacy expectations of personal information of everyone they do business with, including suppliers, customers, and employees. Participants are to comply with privacy and information security laws and regulatory requirements when personal information is collected, stored, processed, transmitted, and shared.
8) Liability
Any time that happens any breaching behavior of honesty provision under this agreement, participant’s business promises to notify immediately and provides related evidences and investigations, in order to report to the judicial authorities and look into trial or other legal proceedings for criminal liability of participant’s business.
NOTE: This policy is established in our quality system according with procedure 02- AMB- 001.
1.4 LABOR
Participants are committed to uphold the human rights of workers, and to treat them with dignity and respect as understood by the international community. This applies to all workers including temporary, migrant, student, contract, direct employees, and any other type of worker.
The labor standards are:
1) Freely chosen employment
All work must be voluntary and workers shall be free to leave work at any time or terminate their employment.
2) Child labor
Suppliers and customers will not use child labor. The term “child” refers to any person employed under the minimum age for employment in the country.
3) Working Hours
Workweeks are not to exceed the maximum set by local law. Further, a workweek should not be more than local law permitted per week, including overtime, except in emergency or unusual situations. Workers shall be allowed at least one day off every seven days.
4) Wages and Benefits
Compensation paid to workers shall comply with all applicable wage laws, including those relating to minimum wages, overtime hours and legally mandated benefits. In compliance with local laws, workers shall be compensated for overtime at pay rates greater than regular hourly rates.
5) Humane 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.
6) Non-Discrimination
Participant’s business shall not engage in discrimination based on race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity or national origin, disability, pregnancy, religion, political affiliation, union membership, covered veteran status, protected genetic information or marital status in hiring and employment practices such as wages, promotions, rewards, and access to training.
7) Freedom of Association
In conformance with local law, participants shall respect the right of all workers to form and join trade unions of their own choosing, to bargain collectively and to engage in peaceful assembly as well as respect the right of workers to refrain from such activities.
NOTE: This policy is established in our quality system according with procedure 02- AMB- 001.
1.5 HEALTH and SAFETY
Participants recognize that in addition to minimizing the incidence of work-related injury and illness, a safe and healthy work environment enhances the quality of products and services, consistency of production and worker retention and morale. Participants also recognize that ongoing worker input and education is essential to identifying and solving health and safety issues in the workplace.
The health and safety standards are:
1) Occupational Safety
The activities in MATECMEX not expose workers to potential safety hazards, still workers appropriate personal protective equipment provided.
2) Emergency Preparedness
Potential emergency situations and events are to be identified and assessed, and their impact minimized by implementing emergency plans and response procedures.
3) Occupational Injury and Illness
Procedures and systems are to be in place to prevent, manage, track and report occupational injury and illness.
4) Industrial Hygiene
In MATECMEX there is not work that exposure to chemical, biological and physical agents will be identified, evaluated, and controlled.
5) Physically Demanding Work
In MATECMEX it has identified the physically demanding tasks areas such as warehouse, shipping area and production, as the hazards of each one, so MATECMEX provides tools and safety equipment to protect the physically demanding workers.
6) Machine Safeguarding
Production and other machinery shall be evaluated for safety hazards. Physical guards, interlocks and barriers are to be provided and properly maintained where machinery presents an injury hazard to workers.
7) Sanitation, Food, and Housing
Workers are to be provided with ready access to clean toilet facilities, potable water and sanitary food preparation, and eating facilities.
NOTE: This policy is established in our quality system according with procedure 02- AMB- 001.
1.6 ENVIRONMENTAL
Participants recognize that environmental responsibility is integral to producing world class products. In manufacturing operations, adverse effects on the community, environment and natural resources are to be minimized while safeguarding the health and safety of the public.
The environmental standards are:
1) Environmental Permits and Reporting
All required environmental permits, approvals and registrations are to be obtained, maintained and kept current and their operational and reporting requirements are to be followed.
2) Pollution Prevention and Resource Reduction
The use of resources and generation of 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.
3) Hazardous Substances
Chemicals and other materials posing a hazard if released to the environment are to be identified and managed to ensure their safe handling, movement, storage, use, recycling or reuse and disposal.
4) Wastewater and Solid Waste
Participant shall implement a systematic approach to identify, manage, reduce, and responsibly dispose of or recycle solid waste (non-hazardous).
5) Air Emissions
Participant shall conduct routine monitoring of the performance of its air emission control systems.
6) Materials Restrictions
Participants are to adhere to all applicable laws, regulations and customer requirements regarding prohibition or restriction of specific substances in products and manufacturing, including labeling for recycling and disposal.
7) Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are to be tracked and documented, at the facility and/or corporate level. Participants are to look for cost-effective methods to improve energy efficiency and to minimize their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Each of us is responsible to knowing and complying with this code and the policies. We expect our suppliers, customers and employees take this document as a guide to implement their own principles, the same or ones comparable to MATECMEX´s code.
Sincerely.
Jorge Gasca
President,
Matecmex S. de R.L. de C.V
Matec Label, Inc.
Matec Texas, Inc.