PETLAB CO, LTD.
CODE OF ETHICS AND BUSINESS CONDUCT
Our commitment to ethical behaviour and the solid ethical foundations are one of the most essential components of PetLab Co, Ltds. operation. We are committed to doing business the right way, based on a culture of ethics and compliance.
In the long term, we can successfully face the challenges of a competitive market environment by accepting the imperatives of moral responsibility, both as individuals and as a company. In performing the job duties, the employees should always act lawfully, ethically and in the best interests of PetLab Co, Ltd. Thank you for upholding our values and helping us to do things right. It does not only mean that we provide well made, fairpriced andexceptional quality products and services, but it also means that ethics and integrity is always at the top of our agenda. We only source materials from suppliers who have impeccable human rights and compliance records, and we ensure that our supply chain is of high integrity. We monitor our entire operation for compliance with our Code.
This CODE OF ETHICS AND BUSINESS CONDUCT of PetLab Co, Ltd. serves as our ethical commitment and guide to proper business conduct for all our stakeholders. We, at PetLab Co. Ltd. are committed to carrying out business legally, ethically and in a transparent manner.
This document applies to all people who work for the company (including officers, directors, managers, team leaders, employees, temporary, agency, interim, sub-contractor or consultant staff), and other organisations who do business with us.
PetLab Co, Ltd. expects its staff to be impartial and honest in all affairs relating to their job. All staff bear a responsibility to be of good faith and do nothing to destroy the trust for employment.
The success of our business is based on the trust we earn from our employees, customers and shareholders. We gain credibility by adhering to our commitment to fairness and reaching our goals solely through ethical conduct. All staff are expected to adhere to this Code in their professional, as well as personal conduct and treat everyone with respect, honesty and fairness.
PetLab Co, Ltd. is open to any questions at any time and will not allow punishment or retaliation against anyone for reporting a misconduct in good faith.
Managers and leaders have a higher responsibility for demonstrating, through their actions, the importance of this Code. Managers and leaders are responsible for promptly addressing every raised ethical question or concern. Employees must cooperate in investigations of potential or alleged misconduct.
Non-compliance to this Code considered as a misconduct that could warrant disciplinary action, including termination of employment or other contract in deserving cases.
We are committed to making efforts to apply our values and norms also throughout the entire value chain of our own suppliers, sub-contractors, service providers and business partners.
Our core values at PetLab, Co Ltd. are:
Ethical conduct is a value-driven decision-making. Several key questions can help to identify situations that may be unethical, inappropriate or illegal. Ask yourself:
Our commitment to integrity begins with complying with laws, rules and regulations. We understand and comply with the legal requirements and commercial practices of lawful business.
We are committed to adhere to every valid and binding contractual agreement that we conclude, and we do not abuse our rights.
Our staff must follow applicable laws and regulations, including the Code at all times and must ensure compliant operation.
We are committed to meet current requirements without compromising the needs of future generations. To this, we combine economic, environmental and social factors in our operation and our business decisions.
We are committed to respect human dignity and rights of each individual and community whom we interact with during the course of our work. We shall not, in any way, cause or contribute to the violation of human rights. Our staff shall treat everybody with dignity, respect and care and uphold human rights.
We are committed to promoting equality in our employment practices and to fair employment and remuneration policy in compliance with applicable laws. We are firmly opposed to employing or contracting child or slave labour or any form of forced or compulsory, or bonded labour. We condemn all forms of illegal, unfair, unethical labour practice that exploits the workforce, destroys social security or serves as tax evasion, including but not limited to undeclared and âgreyâ work or holding back wages. Our staff shall act with integrity and treat their colleagues and others through the work with full respect.
We provide equal opportunity in employment, and we do not tolerate any discrimination,harassment or any type of abuse. No direct or indirect discrimination shall occur based on any professionally non-relevant trait or circumstances, like gender, marital status, age, national or social or ethnic origin, colour, religion and political opinion, disability, sexual orientation, employee representation, property, birth or another status. Any kind of discriminatory behaviour, harassment, bullying or victimisation is prohibited.
All staff are expected to follow the highest standards of conduct in all verbal and written communication based on mutual respect and must refrain from any form of harassment, slander or behaviour that could be taken as offensive, intimidating, humiliating, malicious or insulting.
We provide clean, safe and healthy work conditions, and we are dedicated to maintaining a healthy environment. We are committed to minimising the impact on the natural environment of our operations. We make efforts to reduce the use of finite resources, like energy or water, and harmful emissions, like waste.
All staff must follow and comply with every relevant health, safety and environmental protection laws, regulations and rules all times.
Our relationships with business partners are built upon trust and mutual benefits compliant with competition law. We are dedicated to ethical and fair competition, as we sell products and services based on their quality, functionality and competitive pricing. We will make independent pricing and marketing decisions and will not improperly cooperate or coordinate our activities with our competitors. We will not offer or solicit improper payments or gratuities, nor will we engage or assist in unlawful boycotts of particular customers. We commit to comply with all applicable trade controls, restrictions, sanctions and import-export embargos.
We do not allow any violationsof the fairness of any tendering process in any way. We refrain from damaging competition and the reputation of any business partners and any behaviour that harms competitorâs creditability.
We do not hold back maliciously, unlawfully or unduly payments towards our partners, and we do not allow such practices in our supply chain; we fight the unethical practice of âdebt chainâ.
Our staff is responsible for ensuring fair business during their job and adhere to every competition, consumer protection and fair marketing rule. Customers and business partners shall be treated fairly and equally. Products and services shall be displayed in a manner that is fair and accurate (fair marketing and advertising), and that discloses all relevant information.
We firmly condemn and do not tolerate any form of corruption. It is prohibited to directly or indirectly offer, promise, give, ask, solicit or accept any unfair advantage or benefit, in order to obtain, retain or facilitate in any way the business. An unfair advantage or benefit may include cash, any cash equivalent (e.g. voucher), gift, credit, discount, travel, personal advantage, accommodation or services. We do not permit facilitation (or âgreaseâ) payments to government officials or private business in order to secure or speed up routine actions. Corruption also covers the misuse of function or position as well, when someone makes that false appearance that s/he improperly influences a decision maker.
Corruption for either to obtain or retain business, or to obtain or retain an advantage in the conduct of business is considered gross misconduct. Similarly accepting or allowing another person to accept a bribe is considered gross misconduct. Our staffâs has to account for all benefits received in the course of doing business and must to not give or receive bribes or otherwise act corruptly.
We shall avoid any actions that create a perception that favourable treatment was sought, received or given in exchange for personal benefits.
Business courtesies or benefits include gifts, gratuities, meals, refreshments, entertainment or other advantage from persons or companies with whom we do or may do business. We will neither give nor accept such benefits that constitute, or could reasonably be perceived as constituting, unfair business inducements that would violate law, regulation or polices, or would cause embarrassment. Our staff may never use personal funds or resources to do something that cannot be done with our resources.
We may accept and offer occasional gifts and hospitality that are customary and conform to reasonable ethical practices of the market, provided that they are not inappropriately excessive, not frequent and do not reflect a pattern of frequent acceptance, does not create the appearance of an attempt to influence business decisions. Only trivial gifts with low value can be accepted. All other gifts must be politely refused or, if received through post, returned to the donor. If return is not possible it shall be offered for charity or community purposes. It is the responsibility of the person offering, providing, receiving or accepting the gift to decide whether the gift is appropriate.
We are responsible for the security, protection and for the economic use of company resources. Our resources, including time, material, equipment and information are provided for legitimate business use only. Occasional personal use is permissible as long as it is lawful, does not affect job performance or disrupts workplace morale.
All staff is obliged to follow appropriate security measures and they should treat company property, whether material or intangible, with respect and shouldnât misuse company assets or use it carelessly.
We are committed to business information confidentiality, integrity and accessibility, we implement proper technical security measures this and it is our staffâs obligation to uphold this. Proprietary information includes all non-public information that might be harmful to the company or its customers, business partners if disclosed to unauthorised parties. All staff must handle any such information as secret. It also covers that, no one is entitled to trade with securities while in possession of non-public information or deliver non-public information to others that could have impact on the securities. Every rule ensuring information security must be followed all times.
We respect the property rights of others. We will not acquire or seek to acquire trade secrets or other proprietary or confidential information by improper means. We will not engage in unauthorized use, copying, distribution or alteration of software or other protected intellectual property.
Our books, records, accounts and financial statements must be maintained in appropriate detail, must truly and properly reflect our transactions. We condemn all forms of money laundering, so we are committed to do business with partners involved in legitimate business activities with funds derived from legitimate sources.
We commit ourselves to fair taxation and to avoid all tax evasion practices, including such as failing to issue receipt or accounting fake expense invoices.
All staff must follow accounting procedures, ensure that business transactions are recorded and documented appropriately and make certain that all disclosures made in financial reports are full, honest, accurate, timely and understandable. All staff must not improperly influence, manipulate or mislead any audit.
Fraud â the act or intent to cheat, steal, deceive or lie â is both unethical and, in most cases, criminal. Fraud in every form, (including e.g. submitting false expense reports; forging or altering financial documents or certifications; misappropriating assets or misusing company property; making any untrue financial or non-financial entry on records or statements) is prohibited.
Our decisions shall be based on objective and fair assessments avoiding the possibility of any improper influence. A âconflict of interestâ exists when an employeeâs personal interest (that can be linked to e.g. friends, family, or customer, competitor, supplier, contractor entity, as well) interferes or potentially interferes with the best interests of PetLab Co, Ltd. Determining whether a conflict of interest exists is not always easy to do, thus anyone with a conflict-of-interest question should seek advice from management.
Conflicts of interest could arise:
If co-workers become involved in personal relations with each other, the onus is on the senior employee concerned to bring this to the attention of his or her manager to confirm that there is no conflict of interest, nor will a conflict of interest arise.
We respect peopleâs privacy, and we acknowledge customers, employees and other natural personsâ need to feel confident that their personal data is processed appropriately and for a legitimate business purpose. We are committed to comply with all personal data protection laws. We only acquire and keep personal information that is necessary, and we give proper information on these activities to data owners. We implement proper security measures to assure confidentiality, integrity and availability of personal information.
Our staff must observe the legal requirements, apply compliant practices and follow related procedures to ensure legality of personal data handling and processing activities.