Criteria

Annex 3 of the XertifiX licence agreement [Licence Agreement]

All actors in India in the field of natural stone production and trade who are involved in the XertifiX system are obligated to sign legally binding contracts in which they commit themselves to compliance with the XertifiX criteria. They disclose all orders to XertifiX e.V. in the country of production. Besides the regular announced internal audits, they accept inspections without prior notice at any time. Internal audits and unannounced inspections control the compliance of the following criteria:

ILO Core Labour Conventions

No Child Labour (ILO Conventions Nr. 138 and Nr. 182)

1. Children below 15 years are not allowed to work (ILO Conventions 138)
2. If children below 15 years are found, they have to be released from their work immediately and it has to be ensured, that their families have sufficient financial means to send their children to school
3. Teenagers (between 14 and 18 years) are not allowed to do hazardous work (ILO Convention 182)

No Bonded Labour (ILO Conventions Nr. 29 and Nr. 105)

1. Employees are allowed to leave the workplace when they finish their working day
2. The employment of workers is not connected to human trafficking
3. No use, attempted or threatened use of physical force against the employees

Labour Union Access and Collective Bargaining (ILO Conventions Nr. 87 and Nr. 98)

1. Workers have the right to organise or join unions and to bargain collectively
2. The Employees have the right to name or elect one or more representatives

No Discrimination (ILO Conventions Nr. 100 and Nr. 111)

1. No discrimination due to factors such as race, ethnicity, nationality, class, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or health status or due to any other factor that could be used to discriminate.

   i. In reference to employment, payment, or job promotion.
   ii. In reference to any kind of practices that could result from one the mentioned factors.

2. Prohibition of any kind of exploitation, mistreatment, insult or sexual harassment.

Commitment to improve the working- and environmental conditions according the follwoing criteria:
(Step-by-Step procedure, where the internal audits determine the additional annual new goals to be complied with)

Health and Protection of Workers

Responsibility

1. Designation of responsible staff for health and safety
2. Realisation of an annual safety training
3. Risk-Assessment: written documentation of accidents and the application of adequate measures to avoid such accidents in the future
4. Information to all staff about the work and the purpose of XertifiX

Healthy Workplace

1. Provision of shadow shelter
2. Provision of drinking water
3. Provision of sanitation facilities

Safe Workplace

1. Provision and usage of masks, eye protection, helmets, ear protection and boots
2. Safety measures on machines (installation and usage)
3. 12h Stop of work after blasting (afternoon blasting suggested)
4. In case of danger, the right of the employee to leave his workplace

Medical Care

1. First Aid Box (with all necessary, non-expired medicine)
2. Annual First Aid Training
3. Doctor / Hospital nearby or transportation by employer to the doctor / hospital in case of accident or illness during working hours

Contractual Issues

Employment

1. Written Company contracts also in the language of workers
2. The right to change the employer according to the contract (avoidance of „semi-bonded labour“)

Fair Labour Conditions: Payment

1. Payment of minimum wage according to the local law
2. Payment of living wage, if the minimum wage is below the living wage (the wage to satisfy basic needs and earn a small income) (ILO Convention 131)
3. Punctual payment according to the contract
4. No wage reduction as disciplinary measure
5. No advanced payment that creates dependency (avoidance of „semi-bonded labour“)
6. Payment into the „Employees State Insurance“ and „Provident Fund“

Fair Labour Conditions: Working Hours

1. Working hours maximum 8h per day and maximum working hours per week according to the local law, but not more than 48h (ILO Convention 1)
2. At least one day off after 6 working days
3. Overtime work is voluntary and must be paid at higher rates than regular work (ILO Recommendation R116); it shall not exceed 12h per week.

Women’s Rights: Compliance with all gender guidelines

1. Less work for pregnant women and special leave at pre and post-delivery according to local law
2. Provision of facilities for babies at workplace (in case women workers bring them to the working place)
3. Equal wage for equal work

Environmental Protection

Ecosystem

1. Reforestation
2. Re-Establishing the original ecosystem

Waste Management

1. Recycling of material and/or re-use of materials
2. Avoidance and regular disposal of waste materials (clean working place)

Water Management: Reduction to minimum of Water consumption

1. Recycling of polluted water
2. Water saving installations
3. Use of rain water

Electricity Management: Reduction to minimum of Electricity consumption

1. Replacement of old power consuming machines by newer power saving ones
2. Installation of other electrical equipment for power saving
3. Usage of renewable energy sources (RES)

Community

Free prior informed consent

Living conditions of the workers

1. Availability of Drinking water
2. Availability of Sanitation facilities
3. Access to primary schools