1. Purpose
The Supplier Code of Conduct (hereinafter referred to as the "Code") clarifies the principles and basic requirements of Gokin Solar Energy Co., Ltd., Guangdong Jinwan Gokin Solar Technology Co., Ltd., Qinghai Gokin Solar Technology Co., Ltd., and Sichuan Gokin Solar Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Gokin") for the management of cooperative suppliers, so as to convey a sustainable development value of mutual benefit and win-win with supply chain partners, as well as Gokin's concept of social responsibility.
This Code is one of the basis for Gokinto select and evaluate Suppliers. Gokin expects our Suppliers to incorporate
2. Definition
In this Code, "Suppliers" includes Direct Suppliers and Indirect Suppliers. "Direct Suppliers" refers to any individual or legal entity that directly provides products or services to GOKIN. "Indirect Suppliers" means any individual or legal entity that provides products or services to Direct Suppliers.
Direct Suppliers shall take reasonable measures to make their own suppliers aware of and comply with this Code.
3. Scope of Application
This Code constitutes an integral part of all contracts between Suppliers and GOKIN.
If the terms of this Code conflict with the contract terms between Gokin and Suppliers, and the contract terms are
more stringent than this Code, Suppliers shall comply with the more stringent contract terms.
4. The Cornerstone of the Code
(1) Basis
The following keywords are the basis of this Code:
①Respect
②Security
③Environment Protection
(2) Guiding Principle
The following contents serve as the guiding principles for the formulation of the Code and also form the basis of the Code：
①United Nations Global Compact
②OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
③Universal Declaration of Human Rights
④ILO International Labour Standards
⑤The ILO Convention on Occupational Safety and Health
⑥ISO14000 Environmental Management
⑦ISO 26000 Social Responsibility Standard
(3) Compliance with Laws and Regulations
Suppliers shall be aware of and comply with all applicable laws, regulations, rules and policies, especially the laws and regulations of the People's Republic of China, such as the Labor Law of the People's Republic of China, the Labor Contract Law of the People's Republic of China and the Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China.
Suppliers shall be aware of international conventions and standards relevant to and applicable to this Code, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Labour Organization International Labour Standards, ISO14000 Environmental Management standards, etc.
5. Respect for Human Rights
(1) Anti-Forced Labor
Suppliers shall not engage in any form of forced and compulsory labor, including but not limited to abuse of vulnerability, deception, restriction of movement, intimidation, debt bondage, isolation and imprisonment, physical and sexual violence, retention of identity documents, withholding of wages, provision of abusive working and living conditions, excessive overtime, human trafficking, bonded labor or contract labor.
Suppliers shall not recruit, transport, transfer, harbor or receive person, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, for purpose of exploitation.
Suppliers shall, before employment, provide employees with accurate and understandable information on basic working conditions, clearly stating rights and obligations of employees.
Suppliers shall not directly or indirectly charge from employees any form of handling fee, recruitment fee or deposit as a condition of employment.
Unless required by law, Suppliers shall neither withhold any form of employee’s identity documents (ID card or other similar documents) as a condition of employment, nor destroy or deny employee’s access to such retained documentations.
Employees are entitled to take rest and vacation in accordance with laws and regulations without being punished.
(2) Freedom of Movement
Suppliers shall not lock the workplace or the dormitory of employees to restrict the employee’s freedom of movement. Employees can enter and leave the dormitory or factory freely during non-working hours.
(3) Child Labor and Underage Labor
Suppliers shall not employ minors under sixteen.
Suppliers' employment of underage workers over the age of 16 but under the age of 18 shall comply with the laws and regulations regarding juvenile workers.
(4) Remuneration and Benefits
Suppliers shall pay wages and benefits to employees on a regular, punctual and complete manner, shall not withholdwages, and shall ensure equal pay for equal work.
The Suppliers shall provide employees with wage slips and other documents demonstrating the timely payment of wages.
(5) Working Hours
Suppliers shall ensure that employees' working hours comply with local labor laws and regulations.
Suppliers shall ensure that employees have at least one day off every seven days.
(6) Non-discrimination, Equality and Inclusivity
Suppliers shall actively promote equal opportunities and treatment of employees, and strictly prohibit any form of discrimination.
Suppliers shall not disadvantage or harass workers based on gender, age, color, race, social origin, gender identity, disability, religion, or political views.
(7) Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining
Suppliers shall respect the right of employees to participate in or form trade unions and bargain collectively, and the right of not joining such organizations.
(8) Health and Safety
Suppliers shall control potential sources of hazard through proper process and workplace design, safe operating procedures, and continuous safety training, and provide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment.
Suppliers shall identify and assess hazards and emergencies, minimize the impact by taking preventive measures, implementing emergency plans and response procedures, and track, report and further investigate accidents to initiate corrective actions.
Suppliers shall provide workers with clean sanitation and drinking water, as well as hygienic cooking and catering facilities. If Suppliers provides dormitories, shall ensure the hygiene and safety of the staff dormitories.
6. Environmental Responsibility
(1) Environmental Permit
Suppliers shall obtain and maintain all necessary environmental permits, approvals and registrations.
(2) Natural Resources
Suppliers shall conserve and protect natural resources as much as possible, adopt practices in order to reduce the use of natural resources, such as reducing materials and substituting materials, recycling, reprocessing, and etc.; and is committed to continuously developing and using environmentally- and climate-friendly products, procedures and technologies.
(3) Energy Efficiency
Suppliers shall seek to improve energy efficiency, minimize energy consumption, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases refer to some gases in the atmosphere that can absorb the longwave radiation reflected from the ground and re-emit radiation, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, most refrigerants, etc. Their function is to make the Earth's surface warmer, similar to the greenhouse’s function in intercepting solar radiation and heating the air inside greenhouses. The effect of this greenhouse gas in making the planet warmer is called the "greenhouse effect." Water vapor (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O), freon, methane (CH₄), etc. are the main greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere.
(4) Management and Disposal of Hazardous Substances
Suppliers shall effectively identify and manage chemicals that pose a threat to the environment, including by providing workers with appropriate training on the safe handling and disposal of hazardous substances. All wastes, exhaust gases and waste water shall be identified, monitored, controlled and treated in accordance with the law before being
discharged or disposed.
7. Business Ethics
(1) Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption
Honesty, commitment, integrity, law-abiding, openness and fairness are the basis for sincere cooperation between Gokin and its partners for sustainable and healthy development. We hope to work with our partners to prevent and stop corruption, commercial bribery and other improper acts. Gokin and its partners formally declare and undertake as follows:
To strictly comply with laws, regulations and contractual agreements. All forms of illegal and improper commercial cooperation are prohibited. In the course of business dealings between the parties, it is prohibited to in any name give direct or indirect bribes, kickbacks, commissions, or any benefits in disguised form or in any kinds to any personnel of Gokin, their relatives, friends, or other personnel with specific interests.
Gokin will regularly visit the person in charge of the partner to learn about the situation on implementation of this Code and the compliance of Gokin's employees or agents with integrity behavior. The partner shall fully cooperate and truthfully provide relevant information. If the partner is found to have taken bribes or offered bribes to the employees or agents of GOKIN, Gokin will take appropriate legal measures against the partner and those employees or agents who have accepted or offered bribes, and immediately terminate the cooperation with the partner. At the same time, GOKIN has the right to recover all losses incurred therefrom without any compensation or indemnification.
If there is conclusive evidence that Gokin employees or agents have solicited bribes from partners, Gokin will conduct an independent investigation for the purpose of protecting the interests of both parties.
(2) Conflict of Interest
Gokin employees cannot own the shares of the partner. If any personnel related to the interests of Gokin(including but not limited to Gokin employees and their relatives, and former Gokin employees) own shares of the partner, please inform Gokin in time.
(3) Competition
The Supplier undertakes to conduct its activities in compliance with the applicable competition and antitrust laws and regulations. The Supplier undertakes to promote and preserve healthy and effective competition within its environment. In particular, the Supplier undertakes neither to solicit nor to transfer any information, the communication of which would constitute an infringement of competition law.
(4) Respect and Protection of Intellectual Property and Data Rights:
The Suppliers shall respect and protect IP right, and ensure its use within the scope of authorization. The data and information of Gokin shall be respected and protected, and shall not be transferred to third parties privately without
explicit written consent.
(5) Supply Chain Transparency & Responsible Sourcing:
The Supplier shall truthfully and accurately disclose the manufacturing, production, and sales information of suppliers throughout its supply chain, pursuant to the reasonable request of Gokin. Any falsification or fabrication of information is prohibited. The Supplier shall further promote responsible sourcing in own supply chain, encourage upstream suppliers to take the social, environmental & ethical responsibilities; no use or trading of “Conflict Minerals”; and provide proper due diligence measures and results as required by Gokin.
(6) Whistleblowing
Gokin encourages the Supplier to implement a clear process allowing its employees, suppliers, service providers, contractors, subcontractors and any other person, to voice queries or concerns, particularly in terms of ethics, without prejudice to the person issuing the alert.
8. Implementation Requirements
(1) Inform
Direct Suppliers shall inform their suppliers of the contents of this Code, require their suppliers to comply with them, and supervise their suppliers' compliance.
(2) Report
Suppliers and their members shall immediately report any non-compliance with this Code to jun.mei@gokinsolar.com
(3) Disclosure
Unless there is conflict with the statutory obligation of disclosing information, Suppliers shall disclose information and materials related to the matters covered by this Code in accordance with the requirements of Gokin.
(4) Audit
Suppliers agree that Gokin or any third party authorized by Gokin and reasonably accepted by the Suppliers may audit the Suppliers' operations related to this Code in the presence of Suppliers.
(5) Improvement
If Gokin finds that Suppliers has violated the requirements set out in this Code, Gokin will provide guidance listing the items that need to be corrected or improved, and then Suppliers shall immediately take the corrective measures recommended by GOKIN. However, in order to avoid material violation of this Code, Gokin reserves the right to cancel outstanding orders, suspend future orders or terminate contracts with Suppliers.
(6) Zero Tolerance Matters
The requirements set out in Section 5 "Respect for Human Rights" are zero tolerance. If Suppliers does not meet the relevant requirements, Gokin will immediately terminate the cooperation, unless Suppliers take measures, make rectification and pass the inspection of GOKIN.
9. Supplier Commitment
The Supplier shall confirm that it is fully aware of the principles, requirements specified in this Code and the liabilities for violations, and undertake to comply with this Code.
