Business Partner
Code of Conduct
Our business is built upon providing a healthy and safe work environment for our employees and business partners, and we expect our business partners, where relevant, to ensure that we achieve this.
Health and safety: Where applicable our business partners must make their employees and contractors aware of the PROTO Energy Health and Safety management system, PROTO Energy Life Saving Rules and all relevant legal requirements pertaining to health and safety. Business partners should confirm that they have the capability to meet the relevant requirements and always comply with these requirements, at work, while visiting customers and while travelling. Employees of business partners and any contractors they work with should always follow safety procedures. We expect our business partners to promptly report and control all safety risks and incidents.
Alcohol and drugs: Our business partners must take ownership in ensuring that the PROTO Energy controls related to alcohol and drugs are enforced everywhere their employees work, whether it is on the business partner’s premises, PROTO Energy’s premises or elsewhere.
Working hours: Our business partners need to ensure that their workers are not required to work more than 48 hours per week (standard work week) or more than 60 hours per week (maximum work week including overtime), unless the national provisions impose a shorter work week with fewer hours. Employees should have at least one day of rest in each seven-day period unless the national provisions, or PROTO Energy standards, impose a longer rest period. An exception to this rule may only be made where required by exceptional circumstances.
Stop work policy: Anyone working for PROTO Energy or involved in the work done by or on behalf of PROTO Energy must stop work if the conditions are considered to be unsafe.
Data privacy: Our business partners must respect the personal data that results from their business operations, respect applicable privacy legislation and establish an information security system to protect PROTO Energy’s information – including data from its customers and employees – from being disclosed, changed, destroyed orused for any purpose other than the purpose for which it was provided. Data must be securely deleted or returned once it is no longer needed for this purpose.
Use of company resources: When it is necessary to use them for business purposes, our business partners should make use of PROTO Energy’s resources – including systems, networks and facilities – in an appropriate way.
We conduct business with integrity
Operating license: Our business partners must comply with the licenses, registrations, and certifications required and appropriate for conducting business in the locations in which they operate.
Competition law: Our business partners must compete fairly and comply with antitrust and competition laws in the countries in which they operate. Business partners must not make agreements or carry out practices that are illegal, such as price-fixing, market allocation or abuse of a dominant position.
Anti-bribery and corruption: We expect our business partners to be committed to competing through the merits of their own products. This means never giving or accepting bribes or kickbacks or making facilitation payments. PROTO Energy expects business partners to comply with its policies concerning gifts and hospitality involving employees and representatives. Any form of extortion, corruption, or embezzlement is strictly forbidden and may result in immediate termination of a contract.
Conflict of interest: Our business partners should do business in a way that is open and transparent and with the highest integrity. We request that our business partners immediately communicate any potential conflict of interest before starting a business relationship and/or during the business relationship. In addition, our business partners must not provide financial or other support to political parties to influence transactions with or for PROTO Energy.
Trade controls: Our business partners must comply with all relevant trade controls and provide accurate and truthful information about it to customs and other authorities when required. They identify and manage trade restrictions applicable to their business with us, including those of sanctioned countries and parties. PROTO Energy does not accept any materials or service from persons, entities, governments or countries if doing so violates applicable sanctions.
Records: Our business partners must keep accurate, complete and up-to-date records which may have an impact on their business activities with PROTO Energy. These records must be retained in accordance with applicable laws.
Intellectual property and confidential information:
Our business partners need to respect intellectual property rights, including those of PROTO Energy. They must have in place appropriate measures to prevent disclosure or unauthorised use of any PROTO Energy confidential information made available to them.
We conduct business with care for people and the environment
Workers’ welfare: Our business partners must respect the rights of employees and treat them fairly, in accordance with all applicable laws.
Anti-harassment and non-discrimination: We expect our business partners to create a work environment free from mental or physical coercion. Our suppliers do not harass or discriminate whether through culture, race, nationality, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, association, political preference or age.
Fair remuneration: Our business partners should provide employees with wages and benefits that at least meet the minimum amount required by applicable laws/regulations.
Diversity and inclusion: We value business partners who create an inclusive working environment and ensure that their employees and other stakeholder are always treated with dignity and respect.
Freedom of association: We expect our business partners to respect employees’ freedom of association. Business partners must not retaliate or discriminate against any person in their work force who chooses to exercise this right.
Child and compulsory labour: Our business partners must not engage in or support child labour practices or forced or involuntary labour, including indentured, bonded or slave labour.
Raising concerns: PROTO Energy has a mechanism in place where individuals can raise concerns about any violation or potential violation of laws and the principles outlined in this Code that affects PROTO Energy. Our business partners should provide their employees and other interested parties with a mechanism to raise concerns about any violation or potential violation of laws and the principles outlined in this Code. These concerns should be addressed in a fair and transparent way that protects confidentiality and prohibits retaliation against those raising concerns.
Environmental impact: Our business partners must comply with all relevant environmental laws and ensure that all necessary permits are in place. We expect them to be committed to (re)using raw materials, energy and other natural resources efficiently, while minimising waste, emissions and noise.
Society and community: We expect our business partners to strive to be responsible citizens, who care about the communities they operate in and create positive impacts through the delivery of products and services.
Collaboration: We rely on our business partners to collaborate with teams at PROTO Energy and help us achieve our goal to reduce our environmental impact in the countries where we operate.