Acopia Group hereby confirms that the following statements are true and correct and acknowledge that making a knowingly false statement can result in the suspension or termination of our FSC Chain of Custody certificate or the non-issue of an FSC Chain of Custody certificate.

The organization complies with the 4 core principles related to and contained in the FSC Core Labour Requirements as contained in Clause 7 of the Chain of Custody Certification document (Document Code FSC-STD-40-004 V3-1 EN) dated 14 January 2021: Acopia Group Ltd does not use child labour, eliminates all forms of forced and compulsory labour, ensures that there is no discrimination in employment and occupation and respects freedom of association and the effective right to collective bargaining.

With regards to the use of Child Labour – The company confirms that:

In the application of the FSC core labour requirements, the organization shall give due consideration to the rights and obligations established by national law, while at the same time fulfilling the objectives of the requirements.

• It will not employ child labour or workers below the age of 15 or the minimum age as stated under national or local laws or regulations whichever age is higher, except as specified in countries where the national law or regulations permit the employment of persons between the ages of 13 to 15 years in light work and where such employment does not interfere with schooling nor be harmful to their health or development. Notably, where children are subject to compulsory education laws, they shall work only outside of school hours during normal daytime working hours.
• It will not employ any person under the age of 18 in hazardous or heavy work except for training within approved national laws and regulations.

          The organization shall prohibit the worst forms of child labour.

With regards to the use of Forced Labour – The company confirms that:

• There is no staff involved in forced or compulsory labour.
• Employment relationships are voluntary and are based on mutual consent without the threat ofpenalty.
• They are not involved in and there is no evidence of any practice indicative of forced or compulsory labour including but not limited to any of the following:

1. Physical and sexual violence.
2. Bonded labour.
3. Withholding of wages /including payment of employment fees and or payment of deposit to commence employment.
4. Restriction of mobility/movement.
5. Retention of passport and identity documents.
6. Threats of denunciation to the authorities.

With regards to Discrimination in Employment and Occupation – The company confirms that:

• They will ensure that there is no discrimination in employment and occupation.
• Their employment and occupation practices are non-discriminatory.

With regards to the Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining – The company confirms that:

The organization shall respect freedom of association and the effective right to collective bargaining.

Workers can establish or join worker organizations of their choosing.

The organization respects the full freedom of workers’ organizations to draw up their constitutions and rules.

The organization respects the rights of workers to engage in lawful activities related to forming, joining, or assisting a workers’ organization, or to refrain from doing the same, and will not discriminate or punish workers for exercising these rights.

The organization negotiates with lawfully established workers’ organizations and/ or duly elected representatives in good faith and with the best efforts to reach a collective bargaining agreement.

Collective bargaining agreements are implemented where they exist.