Supply Chain Transparency

Social Compliance Code of Conduct

Excelligence Learning Corporation and its subsidiaries (together, "Excelligence") are committed to principles of human rights and social compliance, particularly as it relates to involuntary labor of any kind, including child and indentured labor, human trafficking and slavery.

Our Code of Conduct outlines the basic requirements with regard to working conditions and must be satisfied by each supplier within our supply chain. In addition, suppliers must ensure that their contractors/suppliers adhere to these same Code of Conduct requirements.

All references to "applicable laws and regulations" in this Code of Conduct includes all local, national and international laws, codes, rules, directives, regulations and treaties.

Involuntary Labor

Suppliers shall not use involuntary labor, defined as work or service which is extracted from any person under threat or penalty for its non-performance and for which the worker does not offer voluntarily.

Child Labor

Suppliers shall not use child labor. No person under the age of 15 years is to be employed by the factory. If any applicable law or regulation has a more restrictive definition of child labor, then the more restrictive definition shall apply.

Human Trafficking

Suppliers must comply with all applicable laws and regulations relating to human trafficking and slavery. In addition, there is to be no engagement in the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons by means of threat or use of force. Suppliers must not use threat of force, coercion, abduction or abuse the power of position over another person. Suppliers must not engage in forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery or servitude.

Working Hours

Suppliers must adhere to all applicable laws and regulations pertaining to working hours and overtime must be consensual. Unless extraordinary circumstances exist, the sum of regular and overtime hours in a week shall not exceed 60 hours, and suppliers shall guarantee that employees receive at least 24 consecutive hours of rest during each seven day period. If an applicable local law differs, suppliers must follow the stricter requirement.

Health and Safety

Suppliers must provide workers with a safe and clean work environment and comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing workplace health and safety. Factories must have safety procedures and equipment in place to prevent accidents and injuries to employees. Access to clean drinking water, washing facilities and an appropriate number of toilets is required.

Compensation

Suppliers must provide fair compensation and benefits to all employees in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and overtime must be calculated at the legally required rate.

Hiring and Disciplinary Actions

Suppliers must accurately verify workers’ age and legal right to work within the country prior to employment. Employees must be treated fairly and with dignity and respect. There is to be no use of corporal punishment or any form of physical or psychological coercion, intimidation or violence.

Nondiscrimination

Suppliers shall not discriminate against their employees in employment, including hiring, salary, benefits, advancement, discipline, termination, or retirement on the basis of gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, marital status, political opinion, trade union affiliation, social group, ethnic origin, or any other status protected by law.

Dormitories and Dining

Suppliers and factories that provide residential and dining facilities for their employees must provide a safe, healthy and clean environment. All such facilities shall have safety provisions such as fire extinguishers, first aid kits and emergency exits. In addition, factories should also have security measures to protect employees and their property.

Excelligence has the right to monitor compliance with this policy through the unannounced inspection of facilities by either third party monitors or Excelligence representatives. Suppliers are required to maintain on site documentation regarding their compliance with these standards and must permit full access to facilities for the inspection of employee records.

Quality Statement

Excelligence Learning Corporation and its subsidiary companies are committed to the delivery of safe, high-quality products to children, parents, teachers and childcare center operators. As a well-respected global leader in the childhood education industry, we are dedicated to ensuring that our products and brand commitments are supported by a robust quality assurance program. To meet this commitment, the Excelligence companies maintain a quality-focused culture to ensure the highest priority is placed on product safety and reliability.

To meet our quality objectives, Excelligence commits to the following:

• Our approach to ensuring the quality and safety of our products will be guided by compliance with applicable state, federal and international quality regulations, codes and standards (as applicable to a particular product or business unit);
• Business unit leaders will ensure procedures are in place that adequately define the expectations for work that supports, or directly affects, product quality, product registration and/or data that supports product quality and consumer safety;
• We will commit to continuously challenging ourselves to improve our quality assurance system to guarantee product safety, prevent quality incidents and eliminate defects through the review of quality objectives and results;
• Members of the Quality Assurance Team will have the appropriate education, training, skills and experience to carry out their work competently, in accordance with applicable regulations and quality policies and procedures;
• Records, documentation and data will be managed in accordance with applicable regulations;
• We will ensure that processes for escalating issues to ensure product integrity and consumer safety are in place and consistently used; and
• We will ensure that our third-party suppliers understand and agree that our sourced products must meet applicable regulatory standards and will be tested to ensure these standards are being met.

Quality is an integral part of the Excelligence companies' core business principles. These principles guide our actions to deliver products that are safe, compliant and preferred. At Excelligence, our commitment is to never compromise on the quality and safety of our products. Quality and safety are essential for the achievement of our ambition to be recognized and trusted to early childhood products that enhance the quality of a child's educational experience and contribute to a healthier future.