VF Corporation
Contractor Terms of Engagement
July 8, 1996
United States Department of Labour
VF Corporation operates under a Code of Business Conduct which
sets forth the key principles under which the Company and its
worldwide subsidiaries are required to operate. The Code of
Business Conduct states that the conduct of business with
employees, customers, consumers, suppliers and all others shall
be based on an honest, fair and equitable basis. It has been and
will continue to be the Company's policy to obey the laws of each
country and to honor our obligations to society by being an
economic, intellectual, and social asset to each community and
nation in which the Company operates.
While most of the Company's products are manufactured in
facilities owned by the Company where compliance with the VF Code
of Business Conduct can be directly assured, the global expansion
of our business is resulting in our dealing more regu larly with
third-party contractors, particularly in foreign countries.
The purpose of these CONTRACTOR TERMS OF ENGAGEMENT is to make
clear that, taking into account differences in cultures and legal
requirements, we expect that wherever our products are
manufactured they will be manufactured in a manner compatible
with the high standards that have contributed to the outstanding
reputa tion of our brands and our Company.
- ETHICAL STANDARDS
- We expect those with whom we contract for the
manufacture of our products ("VF
Contractors") to operate within a set of
ethical standards compatible with VF's Code of
Business Conduct.
- LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
- We expect VF Contractors to comply with the
applicable laws and regula tions of the
localities, states, and countries in which they
operate.
- TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES
- All VF Contractors must fairly compensate their
employees, by providing, at a minimum, wages and
benefits in compliance with applicable wage and
hour laws and regulations. In selecting
contractors, we will favor those whose policies
and practices place reasonable limits on the
number of hours that employees may work on a
regularly scheduled basis and who regularly pro
vide reasonable rest periods and days off.
All VF Contractors must provide their employees
with a clean, healthful and safe work
environment, and, if applicable, safe and healthy
residential facili ties.
We will not do business with contractors who
employ children. For this purpose, the term
"child" generally refers to anyone
under the age of 14, or under the maximum age for
compulsory school attendance if that age is
higher than 14, except in the case of legally
permissible apprenticeship and similar programs.
We will not knowingly do business with
contractors who use prison or other forced labor.
We will not knowingly do business with
contractors who permit the use of corporal
punishment or other forms of mental or physical
intimidation or coercion.
We will favor contractors who provide equal
employment opportunities for workers based on
their ability rather than on the basis of
personal character istics or religious or other
beliefs.
- INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
- We will not do business with contractors who do
not respect our intellectual property rights in
our brands.
- PRODUCT LABELING
- All VF Contractors must accurately label our
products with their country of origin in
compliance with the laws of the United States and
those of the country of manufacture.
- MONITORING
- VF and its subsidiaries will undertake
affirmative measures, such as on-site inspection
of production facilities, to monitor compliance
with the above standards. VF Contractors must
allow VF representatives full access to the
contractor's production facilities and books and
records and respond promptly to reasonable
inquiries by VF representatives concerning the
operations of the contractor's facilities.
- AGENTS AND SUBCONTRACTORS
- We expect the standards set forth above to be
observed by agents we engage to assist in the
selection of VF Contractors.
We do not permit subcontracting without our
consent. We will not knowingly permit VF
Contractors to subcontract our work to
subcontractors who would not qualify as VF
Contractors under the above criteria.
VF CORPORATION AND ITS DIVISIONS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CANCEL
ALL CURRENT PURCHASE ORDERS WITH ANY CONTRACTOR FOUND TO BE IN
VIOLATION OF THE ABOVE STANDARDS
CONTRACTOR CERTIFICATION
I have read and fully understand VF's Contractor Terms of
Engagement and certify that we are in compliance with these
terms.
Contractor's Name:
Contractor's Representative:
Date:
AMERICAN APPAREL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
(submitted by VF Corporation)
AAMA Statement of Responsibility
Members of the American Apparel Manufacturers Association
(AAMA) are committed to the fair and rational practice of
business in the United States and abroad. Basic to this
commitment is the fair and equitable treatment of employees in
wages, working conditions, and benefits. In no case do we support
the use of child labor, prison labor, discrimination based on
age, race, national origin, gender, or religion, the violation of
legal or moral rights of employees, nor destruction or harm to
the envi ronment.
The American Apparel Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has
established this State ment of Responsibility as a guideline for
all member companies for their own facili ties and for the
facilities where production is contracted. AAMA represents over
70 percent of all domestic apparel production in the United
States. Members companies manufacture all types of apparel and we
are located in virtually every state in the United States.