This Code of Vendor Conduct applies to all factories that produce
goods for Gap, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates or agents
("Gap").
While Gap recognizes that there are different legal and cultural
environments in which factories operate throughout the world, this Code sets
forth the basic require ments all factories must meet in order to do business
with Gap. The Code also provides the foundation for Gap's ongoing evaluation
of a factory's employment practices and environmental compliance.
1. General Principle
Factories that produce goods for Gap shall operate in full compliance with
the laws of their respective countries and with all other applicable laws,
rules and regulations.
A. The factory operates in full compliance with all applicable laws,
rules and regulations, including those relating to labor, worker health and
safety, and the environment.
B. The factory allows Gap and/or any of its representatives or agents
unre stricted access to its facilities and to all relevant records at all times,
whether or not notice is provided in advance.
II. Environment
Factories must comply with all applicable environmental laws and
regulations. Where such requirements are less stringent than Gap's own,
factories are encouraged to meet the standards outlined in Gap's statement of
environmental principles.
A. The factory has an environmental management system or plan.
B. The factory has procedures for notifying local community authorities
in case of accidental discharge or release or any other environmental
emergency.
III. Discrimination
Factories shall employ workers on the basis of their ability to do the job,
not on the basis of their personal characteristics or beliefs.
A. The factory employs workers without regard to race, color, gender,
national ity, religion, age, maternity or marital status.
B. The factory pays workers wages and provides benefits without regard
to race, color, gender, nationality, religion, age, maternity or marital
status.
IV. Forced Labor
Factories shall not use any prison, indentured or forced labor.
A. The factory does not use involuntary labor of any kind, including
prison labor, debt bondage or forced labor by governments.
B. If the factory recruits foreign contract workers, the factory pays
agency re cruitment commissions and does not require any worker to remain in em
ployment for any period of time against his or her will.
V. Child Labor
Factories shall employ only workers who meet the applicable minimum legal
age requirement or are at least 14 years of age, whichever is greater.
Factories must also comply with all other applicable child labor laws.
Factories are encouraged to de velop lawful workplace apprenticeship programs
for the educational benefit of their workers, provided that all participants
meet both Gap's minimum age standard of 14 and the minimum legal age
requirement.
A. Every worker employed by the factory is at least 14 years of age and
meets the applicable minimum legal age requirement.
B. The factory complies with all applicable child labor laws, including
those related to hiring, wages, hours worked, overtime and working conditions.
C. The factory encourages and allows eligible workers, especially
younger work ers, to attend night classes and participate in work-study programs
and other government-sponsored educational programs.
D. The factory maintains official documentation for every worker that
verifies the worker's date of birth. In those countries where official
documents are not available to confirm exact date of birth, the factory
confirms age using an appropriate and reliable assessment method.
VI. Wages & Hours
Factories shall set working hours, wages and overtime pay in compliance with
all applicable laws. Workers shall be paid at least the minimum legal wage or
a wage that meets local industry standards, whichever is greater. While it is
understood that overtime is often required in garment production, factories
shall carry out operations in ways that limit overtime to a level that ensures
humane and productive working conditions.
A. Workers are paid at least the minimum legal wage or the local
industry stan dard, whichever is greater.
B. The factory pays overtime and any incentive (or piece) rates that
meet all legal requirements or the local industry standard, whichever is
greater.
Hourly wage rates for overtime must be higher than the rates for the
regular work shift.
C. The factory does not require, on a regularly scheduled basis, a work
week in excess of 60 hours.
D. Workers may refuse overtime without any threat of penalty, punishment
or dismissal.
E. Workers have at least one day off in seven.
F. The factory provides paid annual leave and holidays as required by
law or which meet the local industry standard, whichever is greater.
G. For each pay period, the factory provides workers an understandable
wage statement which includes days worked, wage or piece rate earned per day,
hours of overtime at each specified rate, bonuses, allowances and legal or
contractual deductions.
VII. Working Conditions
Factories must treat all workers with respect and dignity and provide them
with a safe and healthy environment. Factories shall comply with all
applicable laws and regulations regarding working conditions. Factories shall
not use corporal punish ment or any other form of physical or psychological
coercion. Factories must be sufficiently lighted and ventilated, aisles
accessible, machinery maintained, and haz ardous materials sensibly stored and
disposed of. Factories providing housing for workers must keep these
facilities clean and safe.
Factory:
A. The factory does not engage in or permit physical acts to punish or
coerce workers.
B. The factory does not engage in or permit psychological coercion or
any other form of non-physical abuse, including threats of violence, sexual
harassment, screaming or other verbal abuse.
C. The factory complies with all applicable laws regarding working
conditions, including worker health and safety, sanitation, fire safety, risk
protection, and electrical, mechanical and structural safety.
D. Work surface lighting in production areas such as sewing, knitting,
press ing and cutting is sufficient for the safe performance of
production activi ties.
E. The factory is well ventilated. There are windows, fans, air
conditioners or heaters in all work areas for adequate circulation, ventilation
and tempera ture control.
F. There are sufficient, clearly marked exits allowing for the orderly
evacuation of workers in case of fire or other emergencies. Emergency exit
routes are posted and clearly marked in all sections of the factory.
G. Aisles, exits and stairwells are kept clear at all times of work in
process, finished garments, bolts of fabric, boxes and all other objects that
could obstruct the orderly evacuation of workers in case of fire or other
emergen cies. The factory indicates with a "yellow box" or other
markings that the areas in front of exits, fire fighting equipment, control
panels and potential fire sources are to be kept clear.
H. Doors and other exits are kept accessible and unlocked during all
working hours for orderly evacuation in case of fire or other emergencies. All
main exit doors open to the outside.
I. Fire extinguishers are appropriate to the types of possible fires in
the various areas of the factory, are regularly maintained and charged, display
the date of their last inspection, and are mounted on walls and columns
throughout the factory so they are visible and accessible to workers in all
areas.
J. Fire alarms are on each floor and emergency lights are placed above
exits and on stairwells.
K. Evacuation drills are conducted at least annually.
L. Machinery is equipped with operational safety devices and is
inspected and serviced on a regular basis.
M. Appropriate personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves,
goggles, ear plugs and rubber boots is made available at no cost to all
workers and instruction in its use is provided.
N. The factory provides potable water for all workers and allows
reasonable access to it throughout the working day.
0. The factory places at least one well-stocked first aid kit on every
factory floor and trains specific staff in basic first aid. The factory has
procedures for dealing with serious injuries that require medical treatment
outside the fac tory.
P. The factory maintains throughout working hours clean and sanitary
toilet areas and places no unreasonable restrictions on their use.
Q. The factory stores hazardous and combustible materials in secure and
venti lated areas and disposes of them in a safe and legal manner.
Housing (if applicable):
AA. Dormitory facilities meet all applicable laws and regulations
related to health and safety, including fire safety, sanitation, risk
protection, and electrical, mechanical and structural safety.
BB. Sleeping quarters are segregated by sex.
CC. The living space per worker in the sleeping quarters meets both the
mini mum legal requirement and the local industry standard.
DD. Workers are provided their own individual mats or beds.
EE. Dormitory facilities are well ventilated. There are windows to the
outside or fans and/or air conditioners and/or heaters in all sleeping areas
for adequate circulation, ventilation and temperature control.
FF. Workers are provided their own storage space for their clothes and
personal possessions.
GG. There are at least two clearly marked exits on each floor, and
emergency lighting is installed in halls, stairwells and above each exit.
HH. Halls and exits are kept clear of obstructions for safe and rapid
evacuation in case of fire or other emergencies.
II. Directions for evacuation in case of fire or other emergencies are
posted in all sleeping quarters.
JJ. Fire extinguishers are placed in or accessible to all sleeping
quarters.
KK. Hazardous and combustible materials used in the production process
are not stored in the dormitory or in buildings connected to sleeping quarters.
LL. Fire drills are conducted at least every six months.
MM. Sleeping quarters have adequate lighting.
NN. Sufficient toilets and showers or mandis are segregated by
sex and provided in safe, sanitary, accessible and private areas.
00. Potable water or facilities to boil water are available to dormitory
residents.
PP. Dormitory residents are free to come and go during their off-hours
under reasonable limitations imposed for their safety and comfort.
VIII. Freedom of Association
Workers are free to join associations of their own choosing. Factories must
not interfere with workers who wish to lawfully and peacefully associate,
organize or bargain collectively. The decision whether or not to do so should
be made solely by the workers.
A. Workers are free to choose whether or not to lawfully organize and
join associations.
B. The factory does not threaten, penalize, restrict or interfere with
workers' lawful efforts to join associations of their choosing.
Monitoring and Enforcement
As a condition of doing business with Gap, each and every factory must
comply with this Code of Vendor Conduct. Gap will continue to develop
monitoring systems to assess and ensure compliance.
If Gap determines that any factory has violated this Code, Gap may either
terminate its business relationship or require the factory to implement a
corrective action plan. If corrective action is advised but not taken, Gap
will suspend placement of future orders and may terminate current production.