Challenges in Business Environment

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nIntroduction

nApple Inc. has initiated several reforms in its Code of Conduct in order to establish a proper business environment for safe and respectful working environment. Such codes of conduct are intended for its suppliers, employees, managers, and other stakeholders. It also enables progress to assist in the establishment of operations while adhering to its ethical principles (Apple Inc., 2017). More importantly, Apple Inc. has initiated changes to its code of conduct geared towards supporting conducive business environment. Precisely, the company has introduced modifications in terms of protection of environment, compliance to legal provisions, prevention of bribery and corruption, supply chain, safety and health of its workers, and protection of human rights (Backer, 2013).

nApple Inc. encourages its suppliers to respect the fundamental human rights of workers based on the provisions of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International conventions of the United Nations, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (Clarke & Boersma, 2017). In this regard, they are expected to defend the personal privacy, dignity and rights of every person. Additionally they are supposed to conform to the optimum duration of the working time established by the applicable legislations (Apple Inc., 2017). For instance, Apple Company introduced changes designed to guarantee that its workers are never discriminated. Therefore, the organization is committed to deliver individual equal opportunities for career progression and recognition without paying attention to workers physical conditions, beliefs, gender, and origins. It does not condone harassment and any other kind of discrimination (Backer, 2013).

nThe new changes in its code of conducted emphasise the importance of environmental protection. The essence of protection of environment is to enhance the market opportunities for its products and the admiration in which the populace view the firm (Clarke & Boersma, 2017). In so doing, Apple Company has initiated products that raise ecological efficiency, and environmental compatibility in its production processes. Through partnership with Apples suppliers, it is able to meet universal environmental standards (Apple Inc., 2017). The company demands that Supplier execute this Code utilizing the administrations systems. For instance, it hire external monitors who visit its suppliers without prior information to determine the adherence with the code and to review the workers practice, records, payroll, and wages. Failure to comply this code may lead to instant termination of contract as Apple Supplier. Furthermore, suppliers must be devoted to minimizing the environmental effects of their waste emissions, manufacturing processes, and designs. For instance, they must pay particular attention to solid waste management, hazardous substance management, wastewater management, and air emissions management (Backer, 2013).

nMoreover, the company focuses on maintaining highest values of moral behaviours when engaging with customers, suppliers, and workers. Therefore, it has invested in business integrity by prohibiting any form of embezzlement, extortion, and corruption. The provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) must be complied with in order to meet the desired goals. Similarly, suppliers should ensure that all anti-corruption regulations and laws of the nations in which they work must be adhered to in different parts across the globe. Significantly, suppliers are forbidden from accepting or offering bribes or any other favours to gain indecorous advantage (Apple Inc., 2017). Therefore, they must preserve fair commercial standards in competition, sales, and advertising.

nApple Company has also made changes in its code of conduct to ensure that safety and health of its employees are guaranteed. For instance, it ensures that its dealers are compliant with fundamental needs of the workers (Backer, 2013). Its suppliers must be accountable to the safety and health of the workers. Secondly, they must minimize hazards and acquire the rationally conceivable precautionary measures against occupational diseases and injuries. For example, Apple Company appreciates that incorporating comprehensive safety and health organization management in every area of the business. Such practices are important because they assist in preserving high morale and generate innovative merchandises. Furthermore, supplier should be dedicated to the establishment of a healthy and safe environment at work for all the employees (Apple Inc., 2017). The changes introduced by the company are also geared towards prevention of occupational injuries. It suppliers should eradicate physical hazards where applicable. In cases where it is impossible to eliminate physical hazards, the concerned parties should offer suitable engineering controls such as barriers, interlocks, and physical guards. Similarly, in cases where such engineering controls cannot be installed, they should create suitable administrative prevention especially safe labour processes. Significantly, in every circumstance, suppliers should deliver adequate personal protective devices. Employees rights to reject unsafe labour conditions should be encouraged without being afraid of punishment from the management (Clarke & Boersma, 2017).

nThe organization has also launched changes that are meant to disallow child labour in its workforce. Therefore, the suppliers ensures that it adhere to the statutory provisions of minimal employment age set up in different countries (Clarke & Boersma, 2017). For instance, pursuant to ILO Convention 138, at least persons above 14 years may be employed in a nation where supplier sustains its business establishments. The company has set up regulations to control child labour or under age labour. The new changes prohibited suppliers from hiring children as workers. The company has set up the minimum age for occupation to be 15 years of age (Backer, 2013). Particularly, the minimum age should depend on the age for finishing mandatory education in that nation, or lowest limit in terms of employment in a certain economy. However, the code of conduct does not forbid engagement in reasonable apprenticeship initiatives that are in conformity with ILO Minimum age Convention No. 138 under Article 7. Apples suppliers are required to hire teenagers who are older than the legal employment limits including those who are below 18 years as long as they do not engage in activities that do not endanger their morals, safety, or health (Apple Inc., 2017).

nThe firm also pledge its respect and support for competition legal regulations. In this respect, competition regulations are relevant to all areas of the firms business engagements such as negotiations with sales promotion, marketing, competitors, suppliers and customers (Backer, 2013). In addition, the company considers that statutory compliance is one of its key responsibilities. It also acts as a foundation to its corporate responsibility. For instance, Apply Inc. is determined to respect the legislations on the intellectual property rights, anti-trust laws and fair competition (Apple Inc., 2017).

nConclusion

nApple Inc. is dedicated to ensure that it operates its businesses in a safe and favourable working environment (Clarke & Boersma, 2017). For these reasons, the firm has instituted a number of changes, which are meant to guarantee ethical commercial practices, and protection of human rights and welfare of the employees. It collaborates with its supplies to ensure compliance to the statutory provision related to bribery and corruption, child labour and fair competition (Backer, 2013). More importantly, it ensures that protection of environment forms part of the core business of the stakeholders. In so doing, it ensures globally acceptable Code of Conducts is implemented.

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nReferences

nApple Inc. (2017). Supplier Responsibility. Apple. Retrieved 12 December 2017, from https://www.apple.com/supplier-responsibility/

nBacker, L. C. (2013). Transnational Corporations’ Outward Expression of Inward Self-Constitution: The Enforcement of Human Rights by Apple, Inc. Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies, 20(2), 805-879.

nClarke, T., & Boersma, M. (2017). The governance of global value chains: Unresolved human rights, environmental and ethical dilemmas in the apple supply chain. Journal of Business Ethics, 143(1), 111-131.