The Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) Code of Conduct sets global standards to ensure ethical working conditions, environmental responsibility, and fair business practices in supply chains. It is used across sectors - ncluding electronics, retail, automotive, and toys - and applies to members and their suppliers worldwide.

Founded in 2004 as the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition, the RBA is the world’s largest industry coalition focused on responsible business conduct. Its 600+ member companies operate in more than 120 countries, employ over 21.5 million people, and generate a combined annual revenue of more than 8 trillion US dollars.

The current version of the Code - Version 8.0 - took effect on January 1, 2024. It draws on international benchmarks such as the ILO Fundamental Conventions, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The Code outlines expectations in five core areas:

• Labor: Prohibits all forms of forced labor, child labor, and discriminatory practices. Workers must be treated with dignity, provided with fair wages and written contracts in a language they understand, and allowed to freely associate and collectively bargain.

• Health and Safety: Requires employers to identify and control workplace hazards, provide emergency training and drills, ensure clean facilities and dormitories, and support the health of vulnerable groups such as pregnant and underage workers.

• Environment: Obligates companies to track and reduce emissions, waste, and energy use. It requires proper permits, pollution controls, hazardous material management, and the public reporting of greenhouse gas emissions with company-wide reduction goals.

• Ethics: Bans bribery, corruption, and retaliation against whistleblowers. It promotes transparency, protects intellectual property, and supports the responsible sourcing of minerals in line with OECD due diligence guidance.

• Management Systems: Requires businesses to maintain internal systems for legal compliance, risk assessment, training, grievance handling, audits, and oversight of suppliers.

To help companies implement the Code, the RBA operates four focused initiatives:

• The Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) helps companies responsibly source minerals and avoid conflict financing.

• The Responsible Labor Initiative (RLI) works across industries to protect workers vulnerable to forced labor.

• The Responsible Factory Initiative (RFI) provides a standardized framework for assessing and improving conditions in supplier factories.

• The Responsible Environment Initiative (REI) develops tools for sustainability and chemical safety across supply chains.

A key policy linked to the Code is the Definition of Fees document, effective since January 1, 2021. It ensures that workers - especially migrant and contract workers - are not required to pay fees to obtain or keep employment. Main points include:

• Employers must pay all job-related fees, including those for applications, passports, visas, travel, legal documents, and onboarding.

• Workers may only cover minor costs (such as CV copies or passport replacement) if clearly stated in contracts and reimbursed at cost, with no markup.

• If prohibited fees are discovered, companies must hire an RBA-approved third party to investigate and develop a reimbursement plan. Workers must be repaid within 90 days of plan approval.

• These protections apply to all non-professional workers. Professional employees are not included.

• Workers who leave early cannot be charged fees—except in limited cases, and never if they faced abuse or safety threats.

The RBA Code of Conduct and its enforcement framework help companies strengthen ethical business practices, prevent labor abuse, and improve social and environmental conditions throughout global supply chains.

More information about the organization is available on the Responsible Business Alliance website, and full details of the Code’s requirements and scope can be found in the official RBA Code of Conduct Version 8.0.