Working Hours, Breaks and Work Allocation Policy

1. Purpose and Scope

i. Purpose

This policy outlines Solapave's commitment to respecting international standards concerning maximum working hours, minimum breaks, and rest periods. It also establishes our approach to assessing workers' ability to comply with these standards when allocating work or setting targets.

ii. Scope

This policy applies to all Solapave operations, including owned factories, contracted manufacturing facilities, and supply chain partners. It covers all employees, temporary workers, and contractors engaged in the production of our goods.

2. Policy Statement

Solapave is committed to:

1. Publicly respecting and adhering to applicable international standards concerning maximum working hours, minimum breaks, and rest periods.

2. Assessing the ability of workers within our factories to comply with our commitments to respect working hours when allocating work or setting targets.

3. Ensuring that our business practices and production planning do not compromise our ability to meet these standards.

4. Promoting a culture of compliance and continuous improvement in labour practices throughout our operations and supply chain.

5. International Standards and Compliance

i. Working Hours

We adhere to the following standards:

• Regular working hours shall not exceed 48 hours per week.

• The total of regular and overtime hours in a week shall not exceed 60 hours.

• Overtime work must be voluntary and compensated at a premium rate.

• Workers are entitled to at least one day off in every seven-day period.

ii. Breaks and Rest Periods

We ensure the following minimum standards:

• Workers are provided with reasonable breaks during each workday.

• A minimum 30-minute meal break for shifts exceeding 6 hours.

• Short rest breaks of 10-15 minutes for every 4 hours worked.

• Adequate time for physical needs throughout the workday.

iii. Public Commitment

We publicly disclose our commitment to these standards through:

• Our corporate website

• Annual sustainability reports

• Supplier Code of Conduct

• Factory-level postings in local languages

4. Work Allocation and Target Setting

i. Assessment Process

When allocating work or setting production targets, we commit to:

• Conducting regular time and motion studies to accurately determine standard production times.

• Assessing the impact of worker skill levels, equipment efficiency, and other relevant factors on production capacity.

• Considering seasonal variations and peak production periods in our planning.

• Regularly reviewing and adjusting targets based on actual performance data and worker feedback.

ii. Capacity Planning

Our capacity planning process includes:

• Forecasting production needs well in advance to avoid last-minute rushes.

• Building in buffers to account for unforeseen circumstances without requiring excessive overtime.

• Collaborating with clients and suppliers to establish realistic production timelines.

• Investing in technology and process improvements to enhance efficiency without increasing worker stress.

iii. Worker Input

We value worker input in our work allocation process:

• Regular surveys and feedback sessions to gather insights on workload and targets.

• A confidential mechanism for workers to report concerns about unrealistic targets.

• Worker representation in discussions about production planning and target setting.

5. Monitoring and Enforcement

i. Internal Monitoring

We implement the following monitoring mechanisms:

• Electronic time-tracking systems in all facilities.

• Regular internal audits of working hours and break compliance.

• Integration of working hours data into our overall performance metrics.

ii. External Verification

We engage in external verification through:

• Annual third-party social compliance audits.

• Participation in industry-wide monitoring programs.

• Open-door policy for labour rights organizations and researchers.

iii. Enforcement

We enforce this policy through:

• Integration of working hours compliance into management performance evaluations.

• Disciplinary measures for managers who consistently violate working hours standards.

• Inclusion of working hours compliance in supplier agreements with clear consequences for violations.

6. Continuous Improvement

We are committed to continuously improving our practices:

• Annual review and update of this policy.

• Ongoing training for managers and workers on the importance of compliance with working hours standards.

• Investment in research and development of more efficient production methods that reduce the need for overtime.

• Collaboration with industry peers and stakeholders to address systemic challenges in meeting working hours standards.

7. Reporting and Transparency

We commit to transparent reporting on our performance:

• Annual public disclosure of aggregate working hours data.

• Reporting on any incidents of non-compliance and our corrective actions.

• Regular updates to stakeholders on our progress in meeting working hours standards.

8. Responsibility and Implementation

• The Chief Operating Officer is ultimately responsible for the implementation of this policy.

• Factory managers are responsible for day-to-day compliance and reporting.

• The Human Resources department is responsible for training and addressing worker concerns.

• The Compliance team is responsible for monitoring and reporting on adherence to this policy.

9. Review and Evolution

This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to reflect:

• Changes in international standards and best practices.

• Feedback from workers, unions, and other stakeholders.

• Learnings from our implementation experiences.

By adhering to this policy, Solapave demonstrates its commitment to fair labour practices, worker well-being, and responsible business operations. We recognise that respecting working hours not only complies with international standards but also contributes to improved product quality, worker satisfaction, and overall business sustainability.