Ethical Trading

 

 

TCS is dedicated to achieving best practice in our factories and to adopt a social and ethical compliance programme that is realistic and works to meet TCS', our suppliers' and our clients' requirements.

TCS is committed to ensuring our products are made ethically. We take responsibility for improving the working conditions of the people who make the products we sell.

We expect our factories to uphold our TCS Code of Conduct, based on the Ethical Trade Initiative Base Code (ETI) and follow 9 basic principles: Working conditions are safe and hygienic, living wages are paid, no discrimination is practised and workers have freedom of association. It is essential that our factories have a proactive approach to good ethical compliance which results in overall improved product quality.

TCS is a member of SEDEX.

Corporate Social Responsibility is TCS knowing, managing and improving its impact on the economy, the environment and society.

 

 

 

Factory Auditing

 

 

TCS audit all of our factories. Our programme begins with an Initial Factory Audit (IFA), which assesses the level of compliance our factory is at. This is followed up with a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) to address any non-compliance issues.

 

We then carry out a full Factory Audit (FA) This may be undertaken either by our own TCS China Auditor, who is an accredited auditor for Hasbro, Disney and BBC, or by an independent auditing company such as Intertek, Bureau Veritas, SGS or Impactt. Our China office, based in Guangzhou, plays an important role in communicating our policies and procedures from our UK office to our factories and suppliers.

 

All audits assess all areas of compliance and consist of a review of documentation, employee interviews, a health and safety walk through and close off meetings between the auditor and factory manager to agree an action plan of improvements. Once TCS are satisfied with the factory's level of compliance, we make regular factory visits to follow up on continuous improvement and carry out a new audit on a yearly basis. It's an on-going cycle.

 

Our team of trained auditors in China regularly monitors, educates and enables supplier performance improvement. We help to train the factories and not just give them a set of rules.

 

We have mutual respect, open communication and teamwork. TCS China travel on site to offer guidance on compliance and listen to employees' concerns and observe practices in use.

This helps to facilitate good communication between employees and management in a confidential way.