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We improve work conditions

We wish that all employees, working directly or indirectly for Eastport, are happy and motivated. This is not always an easy task, especially when dealing with markets in the Far East. Our ultimate goal is that all employees in connection with Eastport have a good physical and psychic working environment. Therefore we work systematically with point of reference to the international acknowledged SA8000 standard to improve the work conditions for the employees. Our SA8000 certificate proves our contribution within this area and binds ourselves to go for further improvement.

Eastport and its employees

In Denmark the standard within the area of working environment is rather high due to the Danish culture and legislation. This, however, does not mean that the conditions cannot be better. At Eastport we work actively on improving the work conditions for our employees with point of reference to our personnel policy. It focuses on the development of the physical and psychic working environment, personnel benefits as well as several initiatives to improvement of the communication securing that our employees always are happy and confident. Our personnel policy refers to the SA8000 Standard and has been approved by the Norwegian Veritas (DNV) through our SA8000 certificate. DNV is auditing us twice a year to secure that the conditions of our employees fulfil the SA8000 standard.

Suppliers’ employees

In the East where our products are manufactured the attitude towards human rights and working environment is not at the same level as we are used to. The legislation in some Asian countries are fairly rational, however, unfortunately not all companies are observing the national rules.

Eastport Code of Conduct

In the light of this practise we have introduced Eastport Code of Conduct to all our suppliers who are obliged to read, understand and commit themselves to observe this Code of Conduct, being a supplier to Eastport. The aim with our Code of Conduct is to influence our supplier to improve their working conditions to their employees.

We acknowledge our suppliers working under different conditions than ours and thus we cannot expect miracles. Though, we expect that our suppliers commit themselves to develop the conditions positively over time. We focus a lot on communicating with our suppliers to give them the understanding of why it is so important.

Supply Management

Our Code of Conduct is based on the Sa8000 standard and forms the basis of our supply management. Our SA8000 educated controller carries out the audit at the plant according to the claim of Eastport Code of Conduct. If our controller finds any problems in this respect a solution will be found in cooperation with the factory management and a plan including a time schedule with deadlines will be worked out. In case a supplier is not willing to solve the detected problems Eastport will be forced to end the cooperation with the factory. This will, however, always be our last resource. Our aim is to contribute to a positive development of our suppliers. Our supply estimation system has been approved by the Norwegian Veritas (DNV) on basis of our SA8000 certificate.

Sub suppliers

Before the products reach the consumer they are going through several links. Our suppliers have sub suppliers who get the raw material from farmers. We want that everybody working as sub supplier and farmer will have decent conditions. This can be a hard job and our job is to work continuously on getting our Code of Conduct being reached at the very last link. This demands that we explain our suppliers why it is so important that they themselves observe and make a claim to their sup suppliers and farmers with respect to the human rights and working rights. It is a very long term process. Nevertheless we find it worth focusing on these claims and we would like to help our suppliers to spread out this good news to the whole supply chain.