CICS Immigration Inc. Code of Conduct for Vendors

CICS Immigration Inc. (CICS) seeks to conduct business in a lawful, ethical, and moral manner in all countries in which we have the privilege to work. To achieve this purpose, we expect our vendors to subscribe to certain moral and ethical principles in conducting business. While CICS recognizes that there are different legal and cultural environments throughout the world, this code sets forth the basic requirements all vendors must meet in order to do business with CICS.

As a condition of doing business with CICS, each and every vendor must comply with this Code of Conduct for Vendors. Failure to comply with this policy may be sufficient cause for CICS to exercise its right to revoke a supplier’s “approved” status as a supplier. CICS reserves the right, as a condition of supplier approval, to conduct unannounced periodic audit inspections of suppliers, their facilities, and business practices to verify compliance with this Code.

If CICS determines that any vendor has violated this code, CICS may either terminate its business relationship or require the vendor to implement a corrective action plan. If corrective action is advised but not taken, CICS may suspend placement of future orders and may terminate current production.

Endorsement of this letter authorizes CICS to have a company representative or agent to perform assessments as necessary to ensure that suppliers are in compliance with our conduct, quality and security standards. Suppliers agree to cooperate fully and to provide our representative or agent with any and all information requested which is necessary to demonstrate compliance with this Code of Conduct.

  1. General ethical standards – CICS respects the legal, ethical, and moral standards and beliefs of all people and cultures with which we do business. We in turn expect our vendors to respect our rules and procedures. Vendors that produce goods for CICS will operate in full compliance with the laws of their respective countries and with all other applicable laws, rules and regulations. We also expect that international laws related to the conduct of business between nations will be followed at all times.
  2. Wages and hours – Per ILO Convention C-100 & C-131, Vendors will set working hours, wages and overtime pay in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Workers shall be paid at least the legal minimum wage. While we understand that overtime is occasionally necessary, contractors and suppliers must allow workers a reasonable amount of time off from their duties to ensure humane and productive working conditions.
  3. Child labor – Per ILO Conventions C138 & C-182, the use of child labor by CICS suppliers is strictly prohibited. Vendors shall employ only workers who meet the minimum legal age requirement applicable to that area. If, however, the laws of that country do not provide such a definition, or if the definition includes individuals below the age of 16, CICS defines “child” for purposes of determining use of illegal child labor as anyone who is less than 16 years of age, or is younger than the compulsory age to be in school in the country in which the business is being conducted, if that age is higher than 16.
  4. Prison/forced /anti-slavery/trafficked labor – Per ILO Conventions C-29 & C-105, the use of prison labor, forced labor, slave labor, or trafficked labor by CICS suppliers is strictly prohibited. Vendors will not knowingly utilize or purchase materials and/or products manufactured by uncompensated prison workers, indentured servitude, slave, or trafficked labor. Vendors should not require any worker to remain in employment for any period of time against his or her will.
  5. Discrimination & Harassment – Per ILO Convention C-111, Suppliers of CICS will not discriminate or harass on the basis of any personal status or human rights protected by any law or statute
  6. Health and Safety – CICS strives to have a safe and healthy working environment in all the facilities that CICS owns and operates. CICS also expects that any vendor who we provide work will provide a safe/healthy environment for the employees in the workplace. Vendors must comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations. Vendors further agree to notify local community authorities in case of any environmental emergency.
  7. Working conditions – Vendors must treat all workers with respect and dignity and provide them with a safe and healthy environment. Vendors shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding working conditions. Vendors shall not use corporal punishment or any other form of physical or psychological coercion.
  8. Right to Organize and Workplace Freedom – Per ILO Conventions C-87, C-98, C-135 & C-154, CICS believes that employees should have the right to decide whether they want collective bargaining or not, and that companies and unions should respect employees’ decisions. We believe employees should have the right to say yes and the freedom to say no to union representation.
  9. Subcontractors – CICS suppliers and vendors should take steps to ensure that subcontractors also operate in a manner consistent with the Code of Conduct.
  10. Anticorruption – CICS suppliers will show compliance to the principles and objectives of the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development’s Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (“the OECD Convention”) and implementing legislation, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and the Canada Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act ( “CFPOA”) which prohibit or restrict the provision of payments or anything of value, directly or indirectly, to Government Officials or political parties and require strict controls over the disposition and accounts of company assets.

As stated at the outset, each and every vendor must comply with this Code of Conduct for Vendors as a condition of doing business with CICS. Failure to comply with this policy may be sufficient cause for CICS to exercise its right to revoke a supplier’s “approved” status as a supplier. CICS reserves the right, as a condition of supplier approval, to conduct periodic unannounced audit inspections of suppliers and their facilities, and business practices to verify compliance with this Code.