Child Labour

3.1 Policy TEX-APPAREL bases its policy on child labour on the UN Convention on The Rights of the child article 32.1. So we recognizes the rights of every child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education, or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development. 3.2 Definition

TEX-APPAREL defines, in this context, the word “child” as a person younger than fifteen (15) years of age or, as an exception, 14 years in countries covered by article 2.4 in the ILO convention No.138.

TEX-APPAREL acknowledges, that according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the child, a person is a child until the age of eighteen (18). TEX-APPAREL therefore recommends its (sub)contractors to make sure, that employees in the age group 15-18 years, are treated accordingly. Limits for hazardous jobs, working hours, night shifts and overtime and minimum wages for this age group should be set with special consideration to the workers' low age. 3.3 Implementation TEX-APPAREL is concerned about the situation of children in many parts of the world and does not accept child labour. The (sub)contractor shall maintain documentation for every worker verifying the worker's date of birth. In countries where such official are not available, the (sub)contractor must use appropriate assessment methods as per local practice and law.

(Sub)contractors shall not hire any person who is younger than the TEX-APPAREL (see above) or legal age limit whichever is higher. To further ensure these standards are complied with, the (sub)contractor shall not use any form of homework for TEX-APPAREL production. However TEX-APPAREL acknowledges the fact that child labour does exist and cannot be with rules or inspections, as long as the children's social situation is not improved. 3.4 Enforcement If a (sub) contractor does not accept TEX-APPAREL 's policy on child labour, TEX-APPAREL will not continue its co-operation with this (sub)contractor, without any compensation. 3.5 Apprenticeship programs In countries where the law permits apprenticeship programs for children between 12 and 15 years of age, TEX-APPAREL will accept that children of this age work a few hours per day.

The total numbers of hours daily spent on school and light work should never exceed 7 (seven) hours (ILO convention No. 33). The factory must be able to prove that this work is not interfering with the child’s education, that the work is limited to a few hours per day, that the work is light and clearly aimed at training, and that the child is properly compensated if TEX-APPAREL has any reason to doubt that these conditions are met, such apprenticeship programs will not be accepted in factories producing goods for TEX-APPAREL.