Kohl¡¯s is committed to legal compliance and ethical humane practices in all aspects of its business. All Kohl¡¯s suppliers and contractors (Business Partners) must operate in full compliance with all applicable local and national laws, rules and regulations pertaining to all aspects of factory operations in the jurisdiction in which they conduct business. All Business Partners must maintain high standards of business ethics and regard for human rights. If local or industry practices exceed local legal requirements, the higher standards apply. Our standards are summarized as follows:
EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES
Kohl¡¯s will only do business with Business Partners whose workers are treated fairly and who in all cases are present voluntarily, not put at risk of physical harm, fairly compensated, and allowed the right of free association and not exploited in any way.
¡¤ Wages and Benefits: Kohl¡¯s Business Partners must pay workers wages and legally mandated benefits that comply with the higher of (a) any applicable law, or (b) to match the prevailing local manufacturing or industry practices. In addition to their compensation for regular hours of work, workers shall be compensated for overtime hours at such premium rates as are legally required, or in those countries where such laws do not exist, at least equal to their regular hourly wage rate. Kohl¡¯s recognizes that wages are essential to meet workers¡¯ basic needs. Kohl¡¯s will seek and favor Business Partners who are committed to the betterment of wages and benefits within their facilities.
¡¤ Working Hours/Days Off: Business Partners shall limit the number of hours that workers may work on a regularly scheduled basis to the legal limit on regular and overtime hours established by local laws and regulations in the jurisdiction in which they manufacture. Subject to the requirements of local law, a regularly scheduled workweek of no more than sixty (60) hours is encouraged. Business Partners must regularly provide reasonable rest periods and one day off within a seven-day period. Any time worked over the norm for the area should be compensated as prescribed by the local labor laws.
¡¤ Child Labor: Use of child labor is strictly prohibited. Business Partners must observe all legal requirements for the work of authorized minors, particularly those relating to hours of work, wages, minimum education and working conditions. ¡°Child¡± is defined as a person who is younger than 15 (or 14 where the law of that country permits) or younger than the age for completing compulsory education in the country where such age is higher than 15. Kohl¡¯s will not utilize Business Partners who use or permit the use of child labor in any of their facilities.
¡¤ Prison Labor/Forced Labor: There will not be any use of bonded labor, indentured labor, prison labor or Forced Labor in the manufacture or finishing of products ordered by Kohl¡¯s. ¡°Forced Labor¡± is defined as any work or service which is extracted from any person under the threat of penalty for its non-performance and for which the worker does not offer himself voluntarily.
¡¤ Discrimination: Employment (hiring, wages, benefits, advancement, termination, and retirement) shall be based on the worker¡¯s ability and not on personal characteristics. Workers shall be employed on the basis of their ability to do the job, rather than on the basis of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, racial characteristics, cultural or religious beliefs or similar factors. Kohl¡¯s will not utilize Business Partners who discriminate against workers on the basis of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, racial characteristics, cultural or religious beliefs or similar factors.
¡¤ Free Association: Workers must be free to join organizations of their own choice. Business Partners shall recognize and respect the rights of workers to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Workers shall not be subject to intimidation or harassment in the peaceful exercise of their legal right to join or to refrain from joining an Organization.
¡¤ Disciplinary Practices: Every worker shall be treated with respect and dignity. No worker shall be subjected to corporal punishment, physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or other forms of mental or physical coercion, abuse or intimidation. Business Partners shall not use, or permit the use of fines as a disciplinary practice.
¡¤ Women¡¯s Rights: All Business Partners will ensure that workers who are women receive equal treatment in all aspects of employment. Pregnancy tests will not be a condition of employment or continuation thereof and pregnancy testing, to the extent it is provided, will be voluntary and at the option of the worker. Workers will not be exposed to hazards that may endanger their reproductive health and Business Partners will not force workers to use contraception.
¡¤ Health & Safety: Business Partners shall provide workers with a clean, safe and healthful work environment designated to prevent accidents and injuries arising out of or occurring while in the course of work or as a result of the operation of a Business Partner¡¯s facility. All Business Partners must comply with all applicable, legally mandated standards for workplace health and safety. Where applicable, Business Partners who provide residential facilities for their workers must provide safe and healthy facilities that comply with legally mandated standards for health and safety.
¡¤ Environmental Requirements: Kohl¡¯s will only do business with Business Partners who comply with all applicable government laws and regulations, international standards, U.S. regulations prohibiting the use of ozone depleting chemicals (hydrochlorofluourocarbons) and the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, as listed in the United States Endangered Species Act of 1973.
ETHICAL STANDARDS
CAL Kohl¡¯s will seek to identify and work with Business Partners who aspire as individuals and in the conduct of their business to a set of ethical standards which are compatible with Kohl¡¯s standards. Bribes, kick backs or other similar unlawful or improper payments are strictly prohibited to be given to any person or entity to obtain or retain business.
MONITORING/COMPLIANCE
Kohl¡¯s intends to take affirmative measures to monitor compliance with Kohl¡¯s Terms of Engagement and Kohl¡¯s Purchase Order Terms and Conditions. Such measures may include prescreening Business Partners, scheduled or random, announced and unannounced on-site inspections of factories by Kohl¡¯s representatives to verify compliance with Kohl¡¯s Terms of Engagement.
Kohl¡¯s inspectors, associates and representatives have been asked to be watchful for violations of Kohl¡¯s Terms of Engagement on visits to factories or manufacturing facilities and to report questionable conduct to management for follow up and when appropriate, for corrective action. If you believe these Terms of Engagement are not being upheld or if you have questions please let a Kohl¡¯s representative know. You may contact Kohl¡¯s via email at factory.compliance@kohls.com. Your identity will be kept confidential.
