Imagine that you have been appointed as Apple’s Chief Compliance Officer and mus
ID: 1122585 • Letter: I
Question
Imagine that you have been appointed as Apple’s Chief Compliance Officer and must prepare a video presentation for Apple’s suppliers regarding Apple’s Supplier Code of Conduct to deliver via a web meeting. To prepare for your presentation, review Apple’s Supplier Code of Conduct, located at https://www.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/. Next, use a tablet, smartphone, laptop, desktop, or traditional video recorder to record a maximum of a five to seven (5-7) minute dynamic video on Apple’s Code of Conduct. Alternatively, you may submit a four to six (4-6) page paper.
Explanation / Answer
Apple is committed to the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility and ethical conduct. Apple suppliers are required to provide safe working conditions, treat workers with dignity and respect, act fairly and ethically, and use environmentally responsible practices wherever they make products or perform services for Apple. Apple requires its suppliers to operate in accordance with the principles in this Apple Supplier Code of Conduct and in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. This Code goes beyond mere compliance with the law by drawing upon internationally recognized standards to advance social and environmental responsibility. This Code outlines Apple expectations for Supplier conduct regarding labor and human rights, health and safety, environmental protection, ethics, and management practices
Apple will assess its supplier’s compliance with this Code, and any violations of this Code may jeopardize the supplier’s business relationship with Apple up to and including termination. This Code applies to Apple suppliers and their subsidiaries, affiliates, and subcontractors providing goods or services to Apple or for use in or with Apple products.
There are various changes which Apple has made in recent years in its code of conduct are mentioned under:-
Labor and Human rights:
Apple believes all workers in our supply chain deserve a fair and ethical workplace. Workers must be treated with the utmost dignity and respect, and suppliers shall uphold the highest standards of human rights.
Antidiscrimination
Supplier shall not discriminate against any worker based on age, disability, ethnicity, gender, marital status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or union membership, in hiring and other employment practices. Supplier shall not require pregnancy or medical tests, except where required by applicable laws or regulations or prudent for workplace safety, and shall not improperly discriminate based on test results.
Anti harassment and abuse
Supplier shall commit to a workplace free of harassment and abuse. Supplier shall not threaten workers with or subject them to, harsh or inhumane treatment, including but not limited to verbal abuse and harassment, psychological harassment, mental and physical coercion, and sexual harassment.
Prevention of involuntary labor and human trafficking
Supplier shall ensure that all work is voluntary. Supplier shall not traffic persons or use any form of slave, forced, bonded, indentured, or prison labor. Involuntary labor includes the transportation, harboring, recruitment, transfer, receipt, or employment of persons by means of threat, force, coercion, abduction, fraud, or payments to any person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation. Supplier shall not withhold workers’ original government-issued identification and travel documents. Supplier shall ensure that workers’ contracts clearly convey the conditions of employment in a language understood by the workers. Supplier shall not impose unreasonable restrictions on movement within the workplace or upon entering or exiting company-provided facilities.
Prevention of underage labor
Supplier shall employ only workers who are at least 15 years of age or the applicable minimum legal age, whichever is higher. Supplier may provide legitimate workplace apprenticeship programs for educational benefit that are consistent with Article 6 of ILO Minimum Age
Juvenile worker protection
Supplier may employ juveniles who are older than the applicable legal minimum age but are younger than 18 years of age, provided they do not perform work that might jeopardize their health, safety, or morals, consistent with ILO Minimum Age Convention No. 138. Supplier shall not require juvenile workers to work overtime or perform night work.
Student workers protection
Supplier shall ensure proper management of student workers through proper maintenance of student records, rigorous due diligence of educational partners, and protection of students’ rights in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Supplier shall provide appropriate support and training to all student workers.
Wages and benefits
Supplier shall ensure that all workers receive at least the legally mandated minimum wages and benefits. Supplier shall offer vacation time, leave periods, and time off for legally recognized holidays. Supplier shall compensate workers for overtime hours at the legal premium rate. Supplier shall communicate pay structure and pay periods to all workers. Supplier shall pay accurate wages in a timely manner, and wage deductions shall not be used as a disciplinary measure.
Health and safety
Worker health, safety, and well-being is important to Apple. Supplier shall provide and maintain a safe work environment and integrate sound health and safety management practices into its business. Workers shall have the right to refuse unsafe work and to report unhealthy working conditions.
Occupational, health, safety and Hazard prevention
Supplier shall identify, evaluate, and manage occupational health and safety hazards through a prioritized process of hazard elimination, engineering controls, and/or administrative controls. Supplier shall provide workers with job-related, appropriately maintained personal protective equipment and instruction on its proper use.
There are many other changes which I have identified and explained by which supplier understand what is necessary to maintain good relations with the company which are mentioned below -
Ethics - Apple expects the highest standards of ethical conduct in all of our endeavors. Supplier shall always be ethical in every aspect of its business, including relationships, practices, sourcing, and operations
Business integrity - Supplier shall not engage in corruption, extortion, embezzlement, or bribery to obtain an unfair or improper advantage. Supplier shall abide by all applicable anti-corruption laws and regulations of the countries in which it operates, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and applicable international anti-corruption conventions.
Protection of intellectual property
Supplier shall respect intellectual property rights and safeguard customer information. Supplier shall manage technology and know-how in a manner that protects intellectual property rights.
Management commitment
Apple believes that sound management systems and commitment are key to enriching the social and environmental well-being of our supply chain. Apple holds our suppliers accountable to this Code and all of its standards. Supplier shall implement or maintain, as applicable, a management system that facilitates compliance with this Code and the law, identifies and mitigates related operational risks, and facilitates continuous improvement.
Management accountability and responsibility
Supplier shall identify company representatives responsible for ensuring implementation and periodic review of its management systems. Supplier shall have a Corporate Social Responsibility or Sustainability representative that reports directly to executive management and has the responsibility and authority to manage social and environmental compliance requirements for the business.
Training and communication
Supplier shall identify company representatives responsible for ensuring implementation and periodic review of its management systems. Supplier shall have a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or Sustainability representative that reports directly to executive management and has the responsibility and authority to manage social and environmental compliance requirements for the business.
References:
Apple Inc code of ethics. (n.d.). Retrieved March 5, 2015, from
Apple supplier code and conduct. (n.d.). Retrieved March 5, 2015, from Apple_Supplier_Code_of_Conduct.pdf
Supplier responsibility. (n.d.). Retrieved March 5, 2015,