It's a comprehensive human rights and workplace safety policy. The Apparel Industry Partnership (AIP), a White House-sponsored task force composed of leading apparel and footwear companies, labor unions, consumer advocates, religious organizations and human rights groups, drafted it to serve as an industry-wide standard. Liz Claiborne, as an active member of the AIP, helped draft the code and has adopted it as the Company's official policy.

Among other things, this strict set of standards includes the following requirements:

No Forced Labor. The use of forced labor of any kind, including indentured labor, is unacceptable and forbidden.

No Child Labor. Suppliers cannot employ anyone younger than 15 or younger than the age for completing compulsory education in countries of manufacture where such an age is older than 15.

No Harassment or Abuse. All employees shall be treated with respect and dignity. No employee shall be subject to any physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse.

No Discrimination. No person shall be subject to any discrimination in employment, including hiring, salary, benefits, advancement, discipline, termination or retirement, on the basis of gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, political opinion, or social or ethnic origin.

Health and Safety. Employers shall provide a safe and healthy working environment to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with, or occurring in the course of work or as a result of the operation of employer facilities.

Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining. Employers shall recognize and respect the right of employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Wages and Benefits. Employers recognize that wages are essential to meeting employees' basic needs. Employers shall pay employees, as a floor, at the least the minimum wage required by local law or the prevailing industry wage, whichever is higher, and shall provide legally mandated benefits.

Hours of Work. Except in extraordinary business circumstances, employees shall not be required to work more than the lesser of 60 hours per week or the limits on regular and overtime hours allowed by the law of the country of manufacture. Except in extraordinary circumstances, employees shall be entitled to at least one day of rest in every seven day period.

Overtime Compensation. In addition to their compensation for regular hours of work, employees shall be compensated for overtime hours at such premium rate as is legally required in the country of manufacture or, in those countries where such laws do not exist, at a rate at least equal to their regular hourly compensation rate.

If you believe that these Standards of Engagement are not being upheld or if you have any questions regarding these Standards of Engagement, please contact the Liz Claiborne country manager. Your identity will be kept in confidence.

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