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The industry association Ortopeditekniske Virksomheters Landsforbund (OVL) has prepared common guidelines for ethical trade. As a member of OVL, Ortopediteknikk will ensure that the guidelines are followed throughout our business.

Corporate social responsibility of member companies -
guidelines for ethical trade

The purpose of the guidelines for ethical trade is to ensure that members of OVL act in accordance with internationally recognized standards in relation to human rights, working conditions and environmental conditions. All member companies in OVL undertake to follow these rules.

The aim of the rules is not to reduce trade, but to help suppliers improve social and environmental standards. OVL requires that the member companies and their suppliers follow the standards and conditions described below:

  • The ILO's eight Basic Conventions Nos. 29, 87, 98, 100, 105, 111, 138 and 182.
  • UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 32
  • All working life-related health and safety legislation in the country of production
  • Labor laws, including legislation on minimum wages and relevant social insurance schemes in the country of production

Human rights

Suppliers must respect human rights as defined by the UN.

Principles and rights in working conditions

National legislation

All legislation related to working conditions in the country where suppliers have activity must be followed and this defines the minimum requirements for working conditions. If national legislation sets higher requirements than those required by the ILO Convention or the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, then national legislation must be complied with.

Stop child labor

Child labor, as defined by the ILO, is not permitted. If child labor occurs, the supplier is responsible for the development of sustainable social and economic alternatives to child labor (for example education).

Elimination of forced labor

Use of forced or compulsory labor is not accepted.

Elimination of discrimination

Discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, religion, social background, disability, political opinion or sexual orientation shall not occur.

Brutal treatment

Physical abuse or punishment, or the threat of physical abuse is prohibited. The same applies to sexual or other abuse and other forms of humiliation.

Decent pay and working hours

Salary must be paid on time and in full directly to the employee. The lowest acceptable wage corresponds to the minimum wage in accordance with national legislation.
Weekly working hours must not exceed the legal limit and overtime pay must always be paid.


Regular hires

Obligations to workers, in accordance with international conventions, national laws and regulations on regular employment shall not be circumvented through the use of short-term commitments (such as the use of contract workers, freelancers and day workers), subcontractors or other employment relationships.
All workers are entitled to an employment contract in a language they understand.
Apprenticeship programs must be clearly defined in terms of duration and content.
Freedom of association and collective bargaining (ILO 87 and 98) in countries where freedom of association is limited or under development, the supplier will ensure that the employee can meet the company management to discuss wages and working conditions without negative consequences.

Corruption

All forms of bribery are unacceptable, such as the use of alternative channels to secure illegitimate private or work-related benefits to customers, agents, contractors, suppliers or their employees as well as public servants / women.

Environment

The supplier will work to reduce energy and resource consumption as well as waste and emissions to the atmosphere, soil and water. Chemicals must be handled so that they do not harm people or the environment.

Marginalised populations

The production and use of natural resources shall not contribute to destroying the resource and income base for marginalized population groups.

Health and safety

The supplier must ensure a safe working environment that complies with international standards. Employees must be informed of health risks as a result of their work. All employees must have access to the use of appropriate safety equipment.

Animal welfare

General requirements for animal welfare (conditions and production nationally and internationally):
Breeding, living environment, transport and killing must meet the requirements of Norwegian legislation for the species, possibly EU regulations and OIE's guidelines when the species is not mentioned in Norwegian legislation. Alternatives to animal products must be considered and chosen for ethically unacceptable forms of operation.

Management system at suppliers

Management system is central to the implementation of ethical guidelines. OVL's member companies emphasize the importance of the supplier having systems that support the implementation of these. The expectations are clarified by:

  • The supplier should appoint a person responsible, centrally in the organization, for the implementation of the ethical guidelines in its own business.
  • The supplier shall make the guidelines known in all relevant parts of its organization.
  • The supplier must obtain consent from OVL's member companies before production or parts of production are outsourced to a subcontractor / contractor where this has not been agreed in advance.
  • The supplier must be able to account for where goods ordered by OVL's member companies are produced.

Correspondence

The members of OVL must ensure that the supplier and relevant subcontractors comply with the rules in this document.