ethical policy

RTG never compromise on quality or ethics and our work is always transparent. It's vital that customers know where their products are made and in what conditions. The reputation of their brands depends on it. Delivering Quality through our commitment to provide the right working environment, RTG understands that it is a world leader and must lead at all levels of manufacturing, including social responsibility.

RTG employs over 500 people in its Chinese factories led by a skilled management team committed to fair working practices and workers' welfare. They support an active health and safety committee and promote excellent business standards to ensure a programme of continual improvement.

Many of our long-term customers regularly visit the factories. We think it's the best way of reassuring them about quality and ethical standards concerning employment, wages, child labour, working conditions, working hours and health and safety.

RTG also provides environmental, organic, fair trade and recycled clothing and merchandise options for ethically minded companies

OUR POLICY

Because the bulk of RTG manufacturing goes through RTG owned factories we have been able to set the highest standards both in the quality of our product and the working environment.

We can ensure the provision of fair wages and working hours, safe/hygienic working conditions, regular employment and no discrimination or harsh/inhumane treatment of employees.

We also recognise that our business activities can affect the natural environment. We aim, through continuous improvement, to minimise these adverse effects, whilst safeguarding the health and safety of our employees and the public

OUR ETHICAL TRADING STANDARDS

The standards that RTG set are the same as set out by the Ethical Trading Initiative. We acknowledge that we may not be able to achieve all of these targets all of the time but we are continuously working towards this goal. We also understand that for many of our partners this is a long term commitment to change for the better and we are actively involved in raising standards.

We believe that you can only have the best quality product from suppliers that work to the highest standards of production and employment.

Ethical Trading Policy

RTG strives to adhere to all the key points of the Ethical Trading Initiatve's Base Code. We recognise that as we have to manufacture under the Laws governing manufacturing the countries where we work in China we are restricted in respect to the Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining, however we encourage all parrellel means and have a workers group who meet regularly with the factory management.

1. EMPLOYMENT IS FREELY CHOSEN

1.1 : There is no forced, bonded or involuntary prison labour.
1.2 : Workers are not required to lodge "deposits" or their identity papers with their employer and are free to leave their employer after reasonable notice.

2. FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ARE RESPECTED

2.1 : Workers, without distinction, have the right to join or form trade unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively. 
2.2 : The employer adopts an open attitude towards the activities of trade unions and their organisational activities. 
2.3 : Workers representatives are not discriminated against and have access to carry out their representative functions in the workplace. 
2.4 : Where the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining is restricted under law, the employer facilitates, and does not hinder, the development of parallel means for independent and free association and bargaining.

3. WORKING CONDITIONS ARE SAFE AND HYGIENIC

3.1 : A safe and hygienic working environment shall be provided, bearing in mind the prevailing knowledge of the industry and of any specific hazards. Adequate steps shall be taken to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, associated with, or occurring in the course of work, by minimising, so far as is reasonably practicable, the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment. 
3.2 : Workers shall receive regular and recorded health and safety training, and such training shall be repeated for new or reassigned workers. 
3.3 : Access to clean toilet facilities and to potable water, and, if appropriate, sanitary facilities for food storage shall be provided. 
3.4 : Accommodation, where provided, shall be clean, safe, and meet the basic needs of the workers. 
3.5 : The company observing the code shall assign responsibility for health and safety to a senior management representative.

4. CHILD LABOUR SHALL NOT BE USED

4.1 : There shall be no new recruitment of child labour. 
4.2 : Companies shall develop or participate in and contribute to policies and programmes which provide for the transition of any child found to be performing child labour to enable her or him to attend and remain in quality education until no longer a child; "child" and "child labour" being defined in the appendices. 
4.3 : Children and young persons under 18 shall not be employed at night or in hazardous conditions.
4.4 : These policies and procedures shall conform to the provisions of the relevant ILO standards.

5. LIVING WAGES ARE PAID

5.1 : Wages and benefits paid for a standard working week meet, at a minimum, national legal standards or industry benchmark standards, whichever is higher. In any event wages should always be enough to meet basic needs and to provide some discretionary income. 
5.2 : All workers shall be provided with written and understandable Information about their employment conditions in respect to wages before they enter employment and about the particulars of their wages for the pay period concerned each time that they are paid. 
5.3 : Deductions from wages as a disciplinary measure shall not be permitted nor shall any deductions from wages not provided for by national law be permitted without the expressed permission of the worker concerned. All disciplinary measures should be recorded.

6. WORKING HOURS ARE NOT EXCESSIVE

6.1 : Working hours comply with national laws and benchmark industry standards, whichever affords greater protection. 
6.2 : In any event, workers shall not on a regular basis be required to work in excess of 48 hours per week and shall be provided with at least one day off for every 7 day period on average. Overtime shall be voluntary, shall not exceed 12 hours per week, shall not be demanded on a regular basis and shall always be compensated at a premium rate.

7. NO DISCRIMINATION IS PRACTISED

7.1 : There is no discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training, promotion, termination or retirement based on race, caste, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership or political affiliation.

8. REGULAR EMPLOYMENT IS PROVIDED

8.1 : To every extent possible work performed must be on the basis of recognised employment relationship established through national law and practice. 
8.2 : Obligations to employees under labour or social security laws and regulations arising from the regular employment relationship shall not be avoided through the use of labour-only contracting, sub- contracting, or home-working arrangements, or through apprenticeship schemes where there is no real intent to impart skills or provide regular employment, nor shall any such obligations be avoided through the excessive use of fixed-term contracts of employment.

9. NO HARSH OR INHUMANE TREATMENT IS ALLOWED

9.1 : Physical abuse or discipline, the threat of physical abuse, sexual or other harassment and verbal abuse or other forms of intimidation shall be prohibited.