Our Mission “Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and communities are
proud to host.” We support this mission by conducting our internal and external relationships according to these Core Values: Teamwork, Total Customer
Satisfaction, and Integrity.
The Code of Conduct defines our minimum expectations. We expect our suppliers to ensure that no exploitative conditions or unsafe working conditions exist
at the facilities where our merchandise is manufactured.
This Supplier Code of Conduct expresses the commitment of New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. to do business only with those manufacturers and suppliers that
share its commitment to fair and safe labor practices.
EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES
Compliance with Local Laws
• All Standards set forth in this Code of Conduct are subject to compliance with applicable national and local laws. All vendors shall operate in full
compliance with laws of their respective country of manufacture.
Child Labor
• No person shall be employed at an age younger than 16 (or 15 where the governing law allows such employment), or younger than the age for completing
compulsory education if that age in the country of manufacture is greater than 16.
• All facilities are required to maintain official documentation allowing for verification of each worker’s date of birth.
• All facilities must be in compliance with all local regulations regarding the employment of young workers. These regulations shall include types of work,
work schedules and labor intensity as applicable under local labor law.
Harassment or Abuse
• Workers shall be treated with respect and dignity. Workers shall not be subject to any physical, verbal, sexual or psychological harassment or abuse in
connection with their employment.
• There shall be no corporal punishment.
• Behavior that is sexually coercive, threatening, abusive or exploitative shall not be permitted.
Health and Safety
• Employers shall provide a safe and sanitary working environment using OSHA standards as a benchmark, in order to avoid preventable work-related
accidents and injuries.
Nondiscrimination
• All employment decisions must be made in a nondiscriminatory manner.
• Workers shall be employed, promoted and compensated based upon their ability to perform their job, rather than on the basis of gender, race, caste, sexual
orientation, religious or cultural beliefs.
• There shall be no pre-employment or during-employment screening for pregnancy.
• There shall be no discrimination against workers based on political affiliation or union membership.
Wages and Benefits
• Employers shall pay workers for all work completed and shall pay at least the minimum wage required by law or the prevailing industry wage, consistent
with the local area statistics, whichever is higher, and shall provide legally mandated benefits.
• There shall be no deductions of wages for disciplinary purposes.
• The employer shall not engage in false apprenticeship practices that are used to avoid payment of compensation.
Work Hours
• As part of normal business operations including those countries where domestic law does not limit work hours, suppliers shall not require an excess of a 60-
hour workweek on a regularly scheduled basis.
• Workers shall be entitled to one full day off out of each seven-day week.
• Workers shall not be asked or required to take work home or off premises.
• All hours worked must be documented in writing and made available to New Balance staff, upon request.
Overtime
• Exceptional business circumstances requiring a workweek in excess of the local official workweek (or a 48-hour workweek, whichever is lower) shall be
subject to the laws regarding the payment of overtime in addition to compensation for regular hours of work.
• In countries where there are no legal standard regarding overtime premiums, industry standards shall be the model. In no event shall this be at a rate less
than the regular hourly rate.
• Factories shall carry out operations in ways that limit overtime to a level that complies with national labor laws and ensures productive and humane working
conditions.
Freedom of Association
• Employers shall respect the right of workers to join and organize associations of their own choosing, and to bargain collectively. Where local law limits the
right of freedom of association, employers shall not obstruct legal alternative means of free association, and shall, in all cases, implement effective systems
to assure open communication with employees.
Forced Labor
• There shall not be any use of forced labor, whether in the form of prison labor, indentured labor, bonded labor, or otherwise. There shall be no penalties or
fines for declining overtime.
• Workers shall not be locked inside of factory premises for any reason.
Environmental Conditions
• All facilities shall comply with all local environmental laws. Manufacturers, subcontractors and suppliers must certify compliance with all applicable
environmental regulations in their country.
Subcontractors
• This Code of Conduct applies to all subcontractors utilized by New Balance suppliers.
• All Suppliers are required to take all necessary steps to ensure that its subcontractors adhere to this Code of Conduct. No subcontractors will be used
without New Balance’s prior approval.
In the event of any willful, non-compliance with the Code of Conduct, New Balance may terminate or refuse to renew our supply agreements with suppliers
based on the suppliers’ awareness of the Code of Conduct.