NWG // SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT
Supply chain Codes of Conduct New Wave Group actively informs its suppliers about the Group’ s commitments as set out in its supplier Codes of Conduct, which form part of the commercial agreements. As a member of Amfori, the Group applies the Codes of Conduct under Amfori BEPI( Business Environmental Performance Initiative) and Amfori BSCI( Business Social Compliance Initiative). The Codes of Conduct are described in more detail under E1-2: Policies related to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The principles of the Amfori BSCI Codes of Conduct include: # Social management system and cascade effect # Workers involvement and protection
# The right to freedom of association and collective bargaining
# No discrimination, violence or harassment # Fair remuneration # Decent working hours # Occupational health and safety # No child labor # Special protection for young workers # No precarious employment # No bonded labor, forced labor or human trafficking # Protection of the environment # Ethical business behavior
Follow up is carried out through on site visits- primarily by personnel working at the Group’ s sourcing offices- as well as through inspections, preliminary assessments and regular third party audits. detail under S2 4: Taking action on material impacts on value chain workers, and approaches to managing material risks and pursuing material opportunities related to value chain workers, and effectiveness of those action. The audits are also used to assess the effectiveness of the Group’ s engagement. Based on the audit findings, the Group makes decisions to improve workers standards and, where necessary, adjusts its strategies to prioritize the views of vulnerable workers.
As an active member of Amfori, New Wave Group utilizes the network and platform to engage with a wide range of stakeholders- including civil society organizations, universities, trade unions and public authorities, thereby promoting open dialogue on labor rights and ethical business practices.
New Wave Group has also signed the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry( hereinafter referred to as the International Accord). The agreement entails, among other things, that factories undergo electrical and structural inspections and that strengthens the workers’ rights through collaboration with global trade unions.
Furthermore, the Group has engaged in the Multi Stakeholder Alliance for Decent Employment in the Myanmar apparel industry( hereinafter referred to as MADE in Myanmar). MADE in Myanmar is a partially EU funded program aimed at promoting sustainable business practices in the textile, garment and footwear sectors in Myanmar, including improvements in working conditions, health and safety, environmental management, transparency and grievance mechanisms.
The Sustainability Supply Chain Manager oversees these commitments and ensures that information regarding workers in the values is taken into consideration within the Group. The Sustainability Supply Chain Manager is a part of the sustainability department, that is based at the Group’ s headquarters and maintains close dialogue with the Group’ s sourcing offices as well as product developing subsidiaries.
Processes for engaging with value chain workers about impacts To address impacts on value chain workers, New Wave Group maintains active communication with value chain workers and their representatives. The Group has established a strong local presence in high risk countries through its sourcing offices, where its own employees engage in close dialogue with suppliers to support improved working conditions for value chain workers.
In general, dialogue takes place continuously through on site visits and inspections- during which direct engagement with workers at production units occurs- as well as through annual independent audits in which production units are assessed by third parties against the Codes of Conduct.
These audits include confidential interviews with workers to evaluate working conditions, grievance mechanisms, and awareness of labor rights. The audits are described in more
Processes to remediate negative impacts and channels for value chain workers to raise concerns Through internal supplier assessment processes and dialogue- combined with its work within the frameworks of Amfori, the International Accord, and the MADE project- New Wave Group undertakes structured actions where it has been identified that the Group has caused or contributed to material negative impacts on value chain workers. This includes comprehensive investigations carried out by the Group’ s sustainability department to assess the situation, engage with value chain workers or their representatives, and implement the necessary measures.
As described in more detail under S1-3: Processes to remediate negative impacts and channels for own workers to raise concerns, the Group has a whistleblower portal that enables both its own employees as well as value chain workers and other stakeholders to report grievances anonymously.
084 // ANNUAL REPORT