Supplier Code of Conduct

Our Commitment. Voi Technology is committed to corporate sustainability and ethical business practices. Our approach to responsible business is based on the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact (listed below) of which we are a signatory. We aim to enact the same values and principles wherever we have a presence, including in our suppliers’ activities. The Voi Supplier Code of Conduct (“Code”) describes Voi’s expectations of how its Suppliers conduct business.

Code implementation. This Code lays out Voi’s aspiration for our footprint and practice in areas linked to:

human and labour rights
wellbeing, health and safety
environment
compliance and anti-corruption

Voi is embarking on a journey to ensure this Code of Conduct is implemented throughout our supply chain and that compliance is assessed. We intend to take our suppliers with us on this journey, assessment and implementation.

As such, Voi expects its suppliers and their employees, agents and contractors (collectively referred to as “Suppliers“) to adopt the principles reflected in this Code of Conduct (“Code“). Suppliers refer to all upstream and downstream business partners.

Suppliers are expected to report on progress and non-compliance to this Code in relation to their activities, facilities and operations. Suppliers will be responsible for ensuring compliance with this Code by all of its suppliers, vendors, agents, and subcontractors. Failure to show efforts and progress to comply with this Code will result in the termination of the supplier’s agreement with Voi. This Code may be revised by Voi with due notice to suppliers.

1. Human and labour rights

Voi is committed to upholding the human rights of workers, and treating them with dignity and respect as stated in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and the Principles of the International Labour Organisation. This applies to all workers including temporary, migrant, student, contract, and direct employees.

Forced labour. Suppliers shall not use or work with others that use forced, bonded or indentured labour, involuntary or exploitative prison labour, slavery or trafficking of persons.

Child labour. Suppliers shall not use child labour. Under no circumstances shall work be offered to a person below the age of 15 years old or younger than the country’s legal minimum age, if above 15. Any work provided to persons aged 15-17 should not harm their education, health or development.

Working hours. Suppliers must respect their country’s laws regarding working hours, overtime, breaks, weekly rest periods, and applicable leave. Voi supports the requirements of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and we encourage our business partners to adhere to and respect the relevant ILO standards on working time.

Compensation. Suppliers may not pay their workers wages and benefits less than is required by applicable law or collective labour agreement, including compensation for overtime. Information about wages and benefits must be available to all workers, in accordance with applicable laws.

Terms of work & compliance. Suppliers must comply with all local labour laws in the countries where it operates, including those relating to minimum wages, overtime hours and legally mandated benefits.

Anti-discrimination and equity. Suppliers must maintain a fair and equitable workplace which is free from harassment and unlawful discrimination including discrimination based on race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity or national origin, disability, pregnancy, religion, political affiliation or opinion, trade union membership, protected genetic information, social origin, marital status or any other personal characteristics.

Respectful working environment free from harassment. Suppliers must treat all workers with respect and ensure they are not subject to any form of harassment, including verbal, physical, sexual or psychological.

Freedom of association and collective bargaining. Suppliers must respect their workers ability to organise themselves to strengthen their voice and engage in collective bargaining in accordance with local laws and regulations.

Raising grievances. Suppliers must ensure that workers can speak with management regarding their working conditions, individually or collectively, without any risk of discrimination, retaliation, threats or harassment.

Communication of rights. Suppliers must ensure they provide workers with contracts containing working conditions and ensure workers are aware of their rights in a language they understand.

Responsible Mining. Suppliers sourcing conflict minerals are to conduct third party audits and report on origins and social and environmental practices of their suppliers in accordance with the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas.

2. Wellbeing, Health and Safety

Suppliers must maintain a safe work environment for their workers in order to minimise work-related injury and illness. Suppliers must integrate the following health and safety standards:

Regulatory requirements. Suppliers must have a systematic approach to safety and ensure that they are in compliance with all local regulatory requirements in the country they operate in. Suppliers must regularly review and follow up on their compliance status and do the necessary to fulfil new legal requirements.

Risk assessment and controls. Suppliers must work to ensure they have an adequate safety management system in place, by identifying potential safety risks for workers and introducing controls and preventive measures to protect workers against all hazards. This includes providing workers with appropriate personal protective equipment, warnings notices and training. Training should, at a minimum, cover mechanical, electrical, chemical, fire, and physical hazards. The suppliers must also implement systems to prevent and track any work-related injury and illness.

Working environment. Suppliers must ensure that workers are provided with access to clean toilet facilities, drinkable water and sanitary food preparation, storage, and eating facilities.

3. Environment

Voi wants suppliers to be environmentally responsible. Suppliers that produce goods for Voi are required to be ISO9001 and ISO14001 certified. Environmental responsibility is primordial to ensure safe and resource and energy efficient products are manufactured. Suppliers must seek to minimise adverse effects on the community, environment and natural resources while safeguarding the health and safety of the public. Suppliers must have regard to the following areas:

Permits and laws. Suppliers must possess all environmental permits required by applicable local laws and must comply with all applicable local environmental laws and regulations.

Resource and energy efficiency. Suppliers should minimise their use of natural resources and energy and seek to reduce waste harmful emissions.

Renewable energy. Suppliers must aim to source renewable energy to power their operations and activities and use electric vehicles rather than combustion engine vehicles where possible.

Recycled materials. Suppliers must aim to increase the rate of recycled and recyclable materials in the manufacturing of their products.

Waste management. Suppliers must implement systems for responsible recycling and disposal of non-hazardous waste and ensure compliance with all local laws in relation to the usage and disposal of materials. Suppliers should track their waste volumes and set targets to reduce these. Suppliers must identify, properly label and manage all materials posing a hazard to humans or the environment in compliance with all applicable laws.

Environmental compliance. Suppliers must ensure compliance with all EU regulations and standards in respect of any goods supplied to Voi including but not limited to: the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) Standards and Type-Approval, the Machinery Directive, the Low Voltage Directive, the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS), the EU Battery Directive, the General Product Safety Directive, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) and the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH).

4. Compliance and Anti-corruption

Business integrity. Suppliers must uphold standards of integrity in all business interactions.

Anti-corruption. Suppliers must have a zero-tolerance policy to prohibit any and all forms of bribery, corruption, extortion and embezzlement. Bribes or other means of obtaining undue or improper advantage are not to be promised, offered, authorised, given or accepted. Suppliers must implement monitoring and enforcement procedures to ensure compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws.

Compliance. Suppliers must comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

Tax justice. Suppliers must pay taxes in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Intellectual property. Suppliers must respect intellectual property rights and ensure any intellectual property is transferred in a manner which protects and safeguards both customer and Supplier information.

Data security & privacy. Suppliers should implement programs that ensure the confidentiality, anonymity and protection of supplier and worker whistleblowers as well as communicate a zero-retaliation policy. Suppliers must comply with all privacy laws where they do business and commit to protecting the reasonable privacy expectations.

The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact

Corporate sustainability starts with a company’s value system and a principles-based approach to doing business. This means operating in ways that, at a minimum, meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. Responsible businesses enact the same values and principles wherever they have a presence, and know that good practices in one area do not offset harm in another. By incorporating the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact into strategies, policies and procedures, and establishing a culture of integrity, companies are not only upholding their basic responsibilities to people and planet, but also setting the stage for long-term success.

The Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact are derived from: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

Human Rights

Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and

Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

Labour

Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;

Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;

Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and

Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Environment

Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;

Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and

Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.

Anti-Corruption

Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.