ICTI Code of Business Practice

The International Council of Toy Industries (ICTI), an association of associations, is committed on behalf of its member companies to the operation of toy factories in a lawful, safe, and healthful manner. It upholds the principles that no underage, forced, or prison labor should be employed; that no one is denied a job because of gender, ethnic origin, religion, affiliation or association, and that factories comply with laws protecting the environment. Supply agreements with firms manufacturing on behalf of ICTI members must also provide for adherence to these principles.

The role of ICTI is to inform, educate, and survey its members so that individual member companies can adhere to its Code of Business Practices. As an association, it also acts to encourage local and national governments to enforce wage and hour laws and factory health and safety laws.

Specific operating conditions that member companies are expected to meet and obtain contractor agreement in advance are as follows:

Labor

that working hours per week, wages and overtime pay practices comply with the standards set by law or, in the absence of a law, address humane, safe and productive working conditions; that, within this, there be one day of rest granted per week, in accordance with the C14 Weekly Rest (Industry) (1921) convention of the International Labour Organization;
that no one under the legal minimum age is employed in any stage of toy manufacturing; that a minimum age of 14 applies in all circumstances, but notwithstanding the foregoing, that C138 Minimum Age Convention (1973) and C182 Worst Forms of Child Labor Convention (1999) apply;
that no forced or compulsory labor is employed for the benefit of private individuals, companies or associations, in accordance with the terms of C29 Forced Labour Convention (1930), that workers are free to leave once their shift ends, and that guards are posted only for normal security reasons;
that equal remuneration for work of equal value shall be provided to men and women, in accordance with C100 Equal Remunerations Convention (1951). Remuneration includes the ordinary, basic or minimum salary and any additional emoluments whatsoever, payable directly or indirectly, whether in cash or in kind, by the employer to the workers and arising out of the worker’s employment;
that all workers are entitled to sick and maternity benefits as provided by law;
that there will be no discrimination in employment practices on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin which has the effect of nullifying or impairing equality of opportunity or treatment in employment or occupation, within the terms of C111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (1958);
that all workers are entitled to freely exercise their rights of employee representation as provided by local law.

The Workplace

that toy factories provide a safe working environment for their employees and comply with or exceed all applicable local laws concerning sanitation and risk protection;
that the factory is properly lighted and ventilated and that aisles and exits are accessible at all times;
that there is adequate medical assistance available in emergencies, and that designated employees are trained in first aid procedures;
that there are adequate and well-identified emergency exits, and that all employees are trained in emergency evacuation procedure;
that protective safety equipment is available and employees are trained in its use;
that safeguards on machinery meet or exceed local laws;
that there are adequate toilet facilities which meet local hygiene requirements, and that they are properly maintained;
that there are facilities or appropriate provisions for meal and other breaks;
if a factory provides housing for its employees, it will ensure that dormitory rooms and sanitary facilities meet basic needs, are adequately ventilated and meet fire safety and other local laws;
that no mental or physical disciplinary practices are employed.

Compliance

The purpose of this Code is to establish a standard of performance, to educate, and to encourage commitment to responsible manufacturing, not to punish;
To determine adherence, ICTI member companies will evaluate their own facilities as well as those of their contractors; they will examine all books and records and conduct on-site inspections of the facilities, and request that their contractors follow the same practices with subcontractors;
An annual statement of compliance with this Code must be signed by an officer of each manufacturing company or contractor;
Contracts for the manufacture of toys should provide that a material failure to comply with the Code or to implement a corrective action plan on a timely basis is a breach of contract for which the contract may be canceled;
Because of the great diversity in the kinds of toys manufactured and the manufacturing methods used, as well as the wide range in factory sizes and number of employees, three annexes are attached to this Code to provide guidelines for determining compliance; a rule of reason must be used to determine applicability of the annex provisions.

This Code should be posted or available for all employees in the local language.

For complete information, guidelines and procedures on factory certification, click here. Inquiries should be directed to:

ICTI Ethical Toy Program
Room 518, Star House
3 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2111 2462
e-mail: info@ethicaltoyprogram.org

ICTI Code of Business Practice

Labor

The Workplace

Compliance

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