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Code of conduct for business partners

  1. Purpose

    This Code of Conduct outlines UAB Hegelmann Transporte (hereinafter referred to as “Hegelmann Transporte”) requirements and guiding principles for our business partners, in the area of compliance with applicable laws and regulations, in particular with regards to: basic working conditions, human rights, caring for the environment and business integrity.
    The term business partners covers anyone that Hegelmann Transporte does business with, for example, organizations that supply goods and/or services to Hegelmann Transporte.

  2. Basic Principles

    This Code of Conduct is based on internationally proclaimed human rights, including the International Bill of Human Rights, the eight core conventions of the International Labour Organization and Article 32 of the UN Convention on the rights of the Child. In addition to this, Hegelmann Transporte also supports the United Nations Global Compact initiative which is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning with ten universally accepted principles for human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.

  3. Our expectations of Our Business Partners

    At Hegelmann Transporte we are committed to responsible business, wherever we operate, and we rely on the same level of commitment from our business partners. We insist that our business partners not only communicate the principles of this Code of Conduct to their employees, but also ensure that their employees respect them. In doing so, we are seeking to ensure that everyone associated with Hegelmann Transporte demonstrates integrity, responsibility and trust.
    As our business partner, you and your employees must – at all times – comply with this Code of Conduct or similar principles, with all applicable laws and regulations and, needless to say, with your contractual obligations to Hegelmann Transporte. The stricter regulation shall always apply if a topic is covered by this Code of Conduct as well as by applicable laws and/or your contract with Hegelmann Transporte.
    We expect all of our business partners to meet all of the following basic requirements, and we expect them to be managed professionally and systematically.

  4. Basic Working Conditions and Human Rights

    We strongly believe that employees are a company’s most important resource. Which is why we insist that our business partners respect and work in line with internationally proclaimed principles for human rights.

    4.1 Child Labour

    Business partners shall work to prevent all forms of child labour. Under no circumstances should employment be offered to a person younger than 15 years of age (or 14 where the national law so allows) or younger than the countries legal minimum age, if higher than 15.

    4.2 Terms of Employment

    Our business partners must guarantee that the working conditions for their employees comply with all applicable legal requirements. In addition, each employee should have the right to get written information, in a language that they can easily understand, specifying their terms of employment

    4.3 Working Hours

    Working hours including but not limited to overtime, and requirements for providing rest periods, for business partner employees must always comply with applicable law. Hegelmann Transporte supports the requirements of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and we encourage our business partners to adhere to and respect the relevant ILO standards on working time.

    4.4 Health and Safety

    Safety should always be one of the most important factors in any decision, which is why we expect our business partners to provide and maintain a safe and healthy working environment that at least meets, but preferably exceeds, applicable standards and legal requirements.

    4.5 Forced Labour

    There can be no forced labour of any kind relating to Hegelmann Transporte, our services. Therefore, in no event may our business partner use forced labour, regardless of its form. Forced labour includes debt bondage, trafficking and other forms of modern slavery.

    4.6 Wages and Benefits

    Our business partners may not pay their employees wages and benefits less than is required by applicable law or collective labour agreement, where applicable. Information about wages and benefits must be available to all employees, in accordance with applicable laws.

    4.7 Freedom of Association

    Business partners shall respect the rights of their employees to lawfully form, join or exclude themselves from employer-employee relationship related associations and collective bargaining, where permissible by local law. We encourage our business partners to ensure that employees are given the opportunity to discuss their working conditions with management, without fear of reprisal, intimidation or harassment.

    4.8 Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunities

    Our business partners may not engage in any form of discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, political opinion, union affiliation, social background and/or other characteristics where protected by applicable law. Business partners are expected to treat their employees with respect, dignity and common courtesy.

  5. Caring for the Environment

    Like us, we expect our business partners to be constantly striving to reduce the environmental impact of their operations including the handling of raw material. We also expect our business partners to apply the precautionary principle. By that we mean that precautionary measures should be taken whenever there is a reason to believe that a particular action could have a negative impact on an individual’s health, on society in general or on the environment. Our business partners must ensure that they comply with all applicable environmental requirements stipulated by laws, rules and regulations.

  6. Business Integrity

    We expect our business partners to conduct their business ethically and with the utmost integrity.
    6.1 Anti-Corruption
    None of our business partner, their employees may ever engage in, or tolerate, any form of bribery or corruption. As our business partner, you may neither offer nor accept any form of improper benefit to/from a third party including Hegelmann Transporte, whether public or private, with the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or in order to gain preferential treatment. Such improper benefits may include, but not limited to, monetary gifts, monetary loans, pleasure trips or vacations, luxury goods, concealed commissions, facilitation payments or kickbacks. We also expect our business partners to ensure that all of their reports, records and invoices are accurate and complete, and that they contain no false or misleading information.

    6.2 Conflict of Interest

    We expect our business partners to disclose to us whenever a situation arises in which there appears to be a conflict of interest involving or affecting Hegelmann Transporte. In a similar vein, we expect any employee or other representative of Hegelmann Transporte to disclose to us if they have any involvement in, or financial ties with, any of our business partners.

    6.3 Export Control

    Hegelmann Transporte is committed to fully comply with applicable export control laws and regulations and we expect our business partners to do the same.

    6.4 Fair Competition

    Our business partners must support fair business and fully comply with all applicable fair trade, advertising, competition and antitrust laws. We expect our business partners to compete fairly and to never entering into any understanding or agreements that hinder competition. Accordingly, this means that as a business partner you should not undertake in any way with any competitor to: fix prices, discounts or terms of sale; or divide markets, market shares, customers or territories. We also expect our business partners to not competitively exchange confidential or sensitive information, even if it is made via third parties. Sensitive information include things like prices, timing of price changes, magnitude of price changes, costs, profit margins, sales forecasts, sales plans, sales territories, distribution practices, terms offered to particular customers, capacity utilization and intentions, competitive bidding plans or strategy, pricing and marketing strategies, product plans and market shares. This also applies when participating in fairs or trade association meetings.

    6.5 Protecting Information and Intellectual Property

    Business partners must respect intellectual property rights and protect confidential information by safeguarding it against misuse, theft, fraud or improper disclosure.

  7. Consequences of Violating This Code of Conduct

    We reserve the right to conduct an audit, at any time, of business partners that provide goods or services to Hegelmann Transporte. Advance written notice will be provided. If requested, our business partners are obligated to provide all relevant information and/or allow us or our representatives access to their premises for the purpose of the audit. We also reserve the right to appoint an independent third party of our choosing to conduct audits and ensure our business partners are following this Code of Conduct. Lack of cooperation and/or violation of our Code of Conduct and/or applicable laws may result in a reduction in business with that partner and, ultimately, an end to the business relationship with Hegelmann Transporte.

  8. Tell Us

    At Hegelmann Transporte we encourage our business partners to ask questions and raise concerns, in the event of an ethical issue or suspected case of non-compliance. These concerns will be treated with the gravity they deserve and will be properly investigated. If you wish to report a violation of our Code of Conduct, please submit a report to us by any means of communication suitable for you.


    Date: 12.2022