OUR SOCIAL CONFORMITY POLICY IS AS FOLLOWS:
As Kersan Kereste ve Ambalaj Sanayi Ticaret Ltd. Şti., we act with the principle of “People First,” developing strategies to support the importance and value of our employees. We commit to establishing and maintaining a reliable, transparent, responsive, and quality system in every stage of production and management for our customers, stakeholders, and the environment.
Within the scope of this policy, no punitive actions or sanctions will be applied against employees who express their concerns, worries, or complaints. Employees are required to use the suggestion and complaint boxes or submit their concerns in writing to the Management.
Moreover, in adherence to Kersan’s Ethical Principles, if a violation of these principles is discovered or becomes known, the situation must be reported to the email address: sosyal@kersan.com.tr.
Employees can openly express their opinions, requests, complaints, and suggestions. These will be reviewed by Senior Management, and necessary improvements will be made in areas that require enhancement, ensuring continuous development activities.
OUR SOCIAL COMPLIANCE POLICY
Prevention of Forced and Compulsory Labor
An employee is obligated to perform the duties specified in their job description in exchange for payment, based on a contract established with the employer by mutual consent. We pledge that no employee will be forced into working under a contract of obligation or debt bondage and that all work will be performed on a voluntary basis.
Prevention of Child Labor
In alignment with our commitment to protecting children from all forms of exploitation and promoting their healthy development and right to education, we commit to not employing any workers under the age of 18 and to adhering to the rules and regulations regarding the employment of children and young workers.
Prevention of Discrimination
We are committed to preventing any form of discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, language, lineage, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, belief, marital, social or economic status, disability, political opinion, participation in or membership of a union, family responsibilities, illness, pregnancy, military service, or any other condition that might lead to discrimination. We will integrate mechanisms into our processes to prevent and mitigate discrimination.
Ensuring Occupational Health and Safety
We commit to making occupational health and safety a lifestyle and to continuously improving our efforts to provide a safer and healthier working environment for our employees.
We pledge to comply fully with the legal requirements of Occupational Health and Safety and the social compliance standards and projects of our customers. We will effectively implement technical advancements and innovations, assess the health and safety conditions of all individuals affected by our activities, including employees, temporary workers, subcontractor employees, visitors, and customers, and take the necessary precautions.
Prevention of Disciplinary, Harassment, and Maltreatment
We commit to ensuring a peaceful and happy work environment, respecting the dignity and personality of our employees, refraining from corporate punishment, and preventing any form of verbal, physical, psychological harassment, pressure, threats, or coercion.
Working Hours and Wages
We commit to establishing working hours in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, ensuring that overtime is voluntary. In cases of overtime, we will comply with the legal limits on weekly and annual overtime and ensure that employees are compensated for overtime work at the legally required rates.
Our company offers competitive wages according to the sector and local labor market. We pledge to fully comply with legal requirements and employment contracts regarding wages, working hours, overtime, and additional benefits.
Recruitment and Stable Employment
To maintain continuity in social compliance requirements, during recruitment, both technical and professional qualifications as well as compliance with company rules and social compliance criteria will be treated as necessary and significant factors. We pledge to uphold non-discriminatory and fair employment practices from the recruitment stage through the processes of compensation, performance evaluation, and termination. We commit to ensuring stable employment and social security for our employees.
Employment Contracts (Employer Agreements)
A proper “Employment Contract” will be prepared between Kersan and the employee, outlining the offered conditions and complying with the company and legal requirements. Employees who accept the job will sign the Employment Contract, Confidentiality Agreement, and Personal Data Protection (KVKK) documents. These rules and principles will be conveyed during orientation training.
Foreign Employees
For foreign employees, employment contracts will be explained in a language they understand, with translation provided if necessary. We pledge to protect the legal rights of foreign workers employed by the company.
Combating Bribery and Unfair Gains (Ethical Business Conduct)
We pledge that the giving, receiving, or offering of bribes/corruption and/or commissions will never be accepted under any circumstances.
Commitment to Society and Stakeholders
Our company pledges to build good-faith relationships by listening to and considering the views of stakeholders. In this context, employee representatives will be selected according to legal regulations, creating an environment where employees can discuss their problems with their representatives or submit written suggestions. When appropriate, we will engage in dialogue with stakeholders on workplace rights issues.
Prevention of Environmental Pollution
We pledge to comply with current environmental regulations and customer standards, prevent pollution at its source by conducting environmental impact assessments, and implement effective waste management.
Relationships with the Supply Chain
We pledge to obtain social compliance commitments from suppliers, subcontractors, and business partners, evaluate each for social compliance, monitor the adequacy of the measures taken based on the evaluations, and promote continuous improvement of social compliance standards through mutual cooperation.
Complaints and Suggestions
Kersan commits to establishing a complaint and suggestion mechanism for employees to express their wishes and complaints, ensuring timely and effective evaluation and feedback. This process will ensure a happy work environment. The mechanism will also address environmental complaints (such as odor, noise, waste) from surrounding communities, similar to the process for handling complaints from employees.
Management System
We pledge to operate social compliance, occupational health and safety, and environmental management activities within a management system that adheres to applicable laws and regulations and the workplace conduct standards of our customers. We are committed to maintaining and continuously improving this system.
OUR ETHICAL VALUES
Data Protection
We respect everyone’s right to privacy and work diligently to protect personal data from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.
We handle personal data with the same care we give to other valuable assets.
We comply with data protection regulations, and we collect, use, store, and delete personal data only in accordance with these obligations. We are committed to being transparent about how we process and share personal data.
We safeguard all personal data and will take appropriate action immediately if we become aware of any data breaches, including:
• Unauthorized disclosure or access to personal data,
• Illegal destruction or accidental data loss.
Confidentiality
We are committed to protecting the confidential information of our company and all stakeholders. Confidential information will only be shared with relevant individuals within the scope of their authority.
We act with the awareness that company financial and trade secrets, information that could weaken the company’s competitive position, employee rights and information, and agreements with business partners are all within the framework of “confidentiality.” We ensure their protection and confidentiality. We will not share any business-related information with unauthorized internal or external individuals, use it for speculative purposes, or share it without proper authorization with third parties.
Anti-Bribery and Corruption
Bribery and corruption harm society and undermine trust. They are also irresponsible, wrong, and make no business sense!
Bribery, in any form, is prohibited. Kersan operates with a “ZERO TOLERANCE” approach to these issues. This prohibition applies to all of Kersan’s activities. All employees and third parties acting on behalf of Kersan are obligated to comply with anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws, as well as applicable national and international regulations.
Competition Ethics and Fair Trade
Fair Competition Laws are being strengthened and enforced worldwide. Violating these rules can have serious consequences for both companies and employees. We believe in fair and open markets and commit to complying with all competition and antitrust laws related to our business.
Our pricing will be determined independently based on our costs, market conditions, and competitiveness.
We will never attempt to collaborate with competitors, suppliers, or distributors in ways that unfairly restrict competition in the market. This includes price-fixing, market or customer allocation, or limiting supply.
Protection from Retaliation
“Retaliation” includes, but is not limited to, any negative actions an employee might face as a result of raising a concern, filing a complaint, exercising their legal rights, or participating in an investigation or audit, including exclusion, harassment, discrimination, threats, psychological harassment, career limitations, changes in job or work location, negative performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, termination of employment, or denial of rights.
KERSAN adopts the principle of “zero tolerance for retaliation.” In this context:
We will not tolerate any form of retaliation against a whistleblower or employee.
Retaliation will be regarded as a violation of Kersan’s Working Principles and Ethical Rules and will be subject to disciplinary action.
The company will take necessary measures to protect employees facing retaliation or threats of retaliation.
Investigations into retaliation claims will be confidential.