Requirements

1. Non-discrimination

1.1. Gaia Baby Ltd does not tolerate any form of discrimination against our employees based on race, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, caste, national or social origin, property, birth, union affiliation, sexual orientation, age, disability, or other distinguishing characteristics.

1.2. Any employment-related decisions, from hiring to termination and retirement, must be based solely on lawful, non-discriminatory criteria.

2. Forced Labour

2.1. Gaia Baby Ltd does not tolerate any form of forced labour including bonded labour, indentured labour and slave labour, or human trafficking. Workers must be allowed to move around freely and leave their place of work when their working hours end.

3. Child Labour

3.1. Gaia Baby Ltd does not tolerate the hiring of child labour under any circumstances. The minimum age for full-time employment must be 15 or the legal minimum age for employment under Applicable Law, whichever is higher. Where the applicable local minimum working age is 14 in accordance with exceptions for developing countries, this lower age will apply. The Group must not hire employees under the age of 18 for positions requiring hazardous work that could jeopardise health, safety or morals.

4. Freedom of Association and Collective bargaining

4.1. Gaia Baby Ltd must respect employees’ rights to form, join or not join a labour union, or other organisation of their choice, and to bargain collectively in support of their mutual interests without fear of punitive actions such as intimidation, harassment or termination of employment.

5. Harassment

5.1. Gaia Baby Ltd must protect workers from any acts of physical, verbal, sexual or psychological harassment, bullying, abuse or threats in the workplace by either their fellow employees or managers.

6. Working Hours, Benefits and Wages

6.1. Gaia Baby Ltd must adhere to the stricter of Applicable laws or industry standards, relating to minimum wages, working hours, overtime and benefits.

6.2. Employees must not be required to work more than 60 hours a week, including overtime, on a regular basis (or more than the limits on regular hours and overtime allowed by local laws and regulations).

6.3. Wages for overtime must be paid in legal tender on a regular basis. Wage deductions as a disciplinary measure must not be permitted unless provided for by national law. Employees must be given reasonable breaks while working and sufficient rest periods between shifts.

6.4. Gaia Baby Ltd must be committed to continuously developing employee skills and capabilities, and to providing opportunities for career advancement.

Labour & Human Rights

6.5. In the event of major layoffs, Gaia Baby Ltd must, as a minimum, satisfy applicable laws and industry standards.

7. Leave

7.1. Gaia Baby Ltd must ensure that all employees have the right to sick leave and annual holiday, as well as parental leave for employees who have to care for a new-born or newly adopted child as provided by national legislation. Employees who take such leave must not, as a result, face dismissal or threat of dismissal.

8. Employee Contracts/Letters

8.1. All employees must be provided with a written, understandable and legally binding employment contract/letter.

Roles and Responsibilities

Managing Directors/regional and local management are responsible for ensuring that this policy and related standards are implemented and adhered to, and that all relevant employees are made aware of the policy and its requirements. Ensure local compliance with the policy including adequate control measures to eliminate or reduce risks to express behaviours in breach with the policy.

Group HR Drives the implementation of the policy, provides specific advice on labour and human rights issues and dilemmas, and ensures that labour and human rights issues are identified and addressed. Audits, reviews, measures and reports on labour and human rights performance.

Group Sustainability Advises policy owners on policy content, and ensures relevant and correct communication of policy efforts to external stakeholders.

Management, employees and contract workers of all entities in Gaia Baby Ltd are responsible for adhering to this policy. Comply with the letter and spirit of the policy. Engage and take responsibility for ensuring that all initiatives are developed in line with the policy.

Labour & Human Rights

Deviations

No exemptions from this policy can be granted unless there are exceptional circumstances or the policy is obviously not applicable. All requests for exemptions must be made in writing to the policy owner. The policy owner must assess and decide on each request individually. Exemptions must be duly logged and documented.

Policy Revision

This policy must be regularly reviewed in order to ensure its continued adequacy and relevance. It may be amended at any time